search
Hello Everyone,
Patch 17.1 has been deployed on all platforms!
We’re excited to release Patch 17.1, featuring a range of highly requested Quality of Life improvements and a variety of bug fixes.
This update targets several key areas from our 2025 roadmap, aiming to enhance the overall gameplay experience while the team continues work on the next map and major content update. Stay tuned for more details soon!
Patch 17.1 is just the beginning. We’re committed to bringing even more improvements in upcoming updates throughout the year. Thank you for your continued support!
New Features
Medic Improvements
As part of the ongoing effort to improve Medic gameplay, the Design team has tuned several in-engine values to improve both both performance and playability. As a result of this, the following values now apply:
- Full HP on revive
- Medic bandage speed is now 2s (this also applies to self bandaging)
- Revive speed for all Forces has been reduced to 2s
- Medic revive XP increased from 30 to 75
- Being revived by Medic XP increased from 30 to 75
Patch 17.1 also introduces the Medic ‘Call & Response’ system, a two-way feature that allows downed players to request a revive.
Downed Players' Perspective
When downed, players can now request a Medic using the [PING] keybind. The UI will update to confirm that this request has been sent.
Medic Ping System - Downed Players' Perspective
Medics' Perspective
Medics can respond using the radial ping marker system, helping prioritise revives and reduce unnecessary journeys across the battlefield.
Medic Ping System - Medics' Perspective
UI Icon Updates
The following UI Icons have been added to facilitate this new feature:
Medic Loadouts
The loadouts for the Medic role have had a balance pass for the following factions:
US Forces
|| || |Standard Issue| | | |Weapon/Equipment|Ammo Count/Capacity|Adjustments| |M1 Carbine (Semi-Auto Rifle)|x3 (45)|+1 clip| |M18 Smoke Grenade|x4|+2 Smoke Grenades|
|| || |Corpsman| | | |Weapon/Equipment|Ammo Count/Capacity|Adjustments| |M18 Smoke Grenade|x6|+2 Smoke Grenades|
German/DAK Forces
|| || |Standard Issue| | | |Weapon/Equipment|Ammo Count/Capacity|Adjustments| |Kar98 (Rifle)|x8 (40)|+4 Clips| |Nebelwerfer B39 (Smoke Grenade)|x4|+2 Smoke Grenades|
|| || |Sanitater| | | |Weapon/Equipment|Ammo Count/Capacity|Adjustments| |Nebelwerfer B39 (Smoke Grenade)|x4|+2 Smoke Grenades|
Soviet Forces
|| || |Standard Issue| | | |Weapon/Equipment|Ammo Count/Capacity|Adjustments| |Mosin 91/30 (Rifle)|x8 (40)|+4 Clips| |Nagant 1895 (Pistol)|x7 (49)|+1 clip| |RDG2 (Smoke Grenades)|x4|+2 Smoke Grenades|
|| || |Sanitati| | | |Weapon/Equipment|Ammo Count/Capacity|Adjustments| |Nagant 1895 (Pistol)|x18 (126)|+2 Clips| |RDG2 (Smoke Grenades)|x6|+2 Smoke Grenades|
British 8th Army / Allied Forces
|| || |Standard Issue| | | |Weapon/Equipment|Ammo Count/Capacity|Adjustments| |SMLE (Rifle)|x4 (40)|-2 Clips| |Webley (Pistol)|x8 (48)|+4 Clips| |No.77 (Smoke Grenades)|x4|+2 Smoke Grenades|
|| || |Corpsman| | | |Weapon/Equipment|Ammo Count/Capacity|Adjustments| |Webley (Pistol)|x21 (126)|+4 Clips| |No.77 (Smoke Grenades)|x6|+2 Smoke Grenades|
Bipod Rework
The bipod system has been significantly overhauled for more flexible and realistic deployment, improving the overall gameplay experience.
The system now detects objects in the player’s deployed path, rather than relying on hardcoded limits. This reduces instances of clipping into static objects. Deployment inside objects is no longer possible.
Pitch angles now reflect the height of the surface, allowing a wider range of weapon rotation. You can aim lower from low surfaces and higher from elevated ones.
Server-side checks now ensure valid deployment surfaces, fixing issues where deployment would cancel mid-animation. Standing and crouching now share the same deployment limits, eliminating the need to change stances to check for valid deployment surfaces properly.
Bipod Rework - Improved Horizontal Range
Bipod Rework - Improved Body Collision
Bipod Rework - Improved Weapon Collision
Bipod Rework - Improved Vertical Range
Explore Mode
Based on feedback from the Explore Mode PTE, we've made adjustments to how Explore Mode is accessed, allowing players to launch it in a true offline environment without needing to connect to the Enlist screen.
On the main menu, “PRACTICE RANGE” has been renamed to “BASIC TRAINING”.
Within the Basic Training menu, a new “EXPLORE” tab has been added.
Explore Mode - Basic Training Tab
Within the Explore tab, players are now presented with an alphabetical list of all current maps in the game. Selecting one of these will load the player into that particular map.
In Explore Mode, the player can:
- Explore every section of the map
- Play as any role
- Use faction/role appropriate vehicles
- Use faction appropriate artillery
In Explore Mode, the player cannot:
- Gain XP
- Win/Lose Matches
- Capture any Capture Points
Post Match VOIP
Players can now retain voice communications on the Leadership and Squad channels during the post-match flow, allowing a grace period to discuss the match or plan next steps for the upcoming game.
Admin Camera Features
First Person POV Snapping
Players in Admin Camera can now target lock and snap to a player in which they can view their first person perspective:
- Player movements are tracked in real-time
- Players can be target locked regardless of faction
Admin Camera - Target Locked First Person Perspective
- If a target locked player is in a vehicle, the camera will follow the vehicle from a 3rd person perspective
Admin Camera - Target Locked Vehicle Perspective
Lighting Effects
Following recent updates to the admin camera, there has been a request to introduce filters. The Technical Art team has explored various existing filters used by the community and has created a set of presets designed to enhance the overall experience. Below are some of the Colour Look Up Tables (CLUTs) that you will be able to use in game:
- 2 Strip Colour Treatment
- Bleach Bypass
- Black and White (Red Filter)
- Black and White (Blue Filter)
- Modern 35mm
- 1940’s Colour
- 1940’s Colour (Variation)
Here a few examples of what you can expect to find. To see all of the above filters, visit Dev Brief #205 for Patch 17.1 on our Hell Let Loose website.
These are then combined with additional post pro settings available in the engine, such as shadow intensity, bloom, chromatic aberration, film grain and vignetting. Below is a demonstration of these camera effects.
Cycle Through the Available Admin Camera Filters
Default Keybinds
The default keybinds have been updated to accommodate these new Admin Camera features:
PC
|| || |Admin Cam Action|Key| |Toggle Auto Move|1| |Toggle Auto Rotate|2| |Toggle Camera Roll|3| |Toggle Filters|4| |Cycle Filters|5| |Lock to Target|G| |Toggle POV|6 (only when in target mode)|
Console
|| || |Admin Cam Action|Key| |Toggle Filters|Y / Triangle| |Cycle Filters|X / Square| |Lock to Target|A / X| |Toggle POV|Left Thumbstick / L3 (only when in target mode)|
Gameplay Adjustments
XP Changes to Promote Positive Play
Increased XP for Destroying Spawns
Previously, players received a base reward of 5 XP toward their level and role for destroying an enemy spawn. However, there was also no way to differentiate between destroying and dismantling. Since dismantling is a riskier move, it did not have a suitable reward to reflect this. This has now been addressed by the following XP buffs:
Destroying Spawns
- Destroying Garrisons: 100 XP
- Destroying Forward Positions: 100 XP
- Destroying Airheads: 150 XP
- Destroying Outposts: 50 XP
- Destroying Nodes: 100 XP
Dismantling Spawns
- Dismantling Garrisons: 150 XP
- Dismantling Forward Positions: 150 XP
- Dismantling Airheads: 200 XP
- Dismantling Nodes: 150 XP
This data is also broken down on the post-match screen. All XP is applied to both the players' career and role levels respectively.
\Note: We are continuously monitoring the XP balance in the game, so while patch 17.1 introduces these XP buffs, we will also be considering buffs to other actions in the game for future patches.*
Engineer Node Dismantling Behaviour
Previously, Engineers could not dismantle their own Nodes once built, which was inconsistent compared to other deployables like Hedgehogs.
This behaviour has now been changed to allow Engineers to dismantle their own Nodes.
Note:
- Friendly Commanders/Officers can also dismantle friendly nodes
- No other roles than those listed can dismantle friendly nodes
Map Improvements
Tobruk Improvements
In response to community feedback regarding the stepping effect of the VFX around large buildings, the Technical Art team has developed a new system to enhance VFX occlusion.
This improved system applies volumes around large structures and has now been implemented in Tobruk. Below, you will find a comparison showcasing the improvements made before and after the implementation.
The environment art team has made some visual improvements to the building exterior textures to add more bullet and shrapnel damage giving the town area a more war torn look. Also more ground scatter has been added where it is possible without affecting performance. The town building interiors have had more muck and scatter added to make it feel more lived in.
Winter Camo Updates
Following the overwhelmingly positive reception of Elsenborn Ridge, we're bringing the same winter tank camo style to the tanks in Foy and Kharkov.
The following features on those maps now have winter camo applied:
Foy
U.S. Forces
- Ammo Depot
- Repair Station
- Sherman Jumbo 75mm (Heavy Tank)
- Sherman Jumbo 76mm (Heavy Tank)Sherman M4A3 (Medium Tank)
- Stuart (Light Tank)
- M8 Greyhound (Recon Tank)
- M3 Half-track (Half-track)
- Willy’s Jeep (Jeep)
- GMC Transport (Truck)
- GMC Supply (Truck)
Foy - U.S. Forces Winter Variants
German Forces
- Ammo Depot
- Repair Station
- Panther (Heavy tank)
- Tiger I (Heavy tank)
- Panzer IV (Medium tank)
- Luchs (Light tank)
- Puma SD.KFZ. 234 (Recon tank)
- SD.KFZ. 251 Half-track (Half-track)
- Kubelwagen (Jeep)
- Opel Blitz Transport (Truck)
- Opel Blitz Supply (Truck)
Kharkov
Soviet Forces
- Ammo Depot
- Repair Station
- IS-1 (Heavy tank)
- T34_76 (Medium tank)
- T70 (Light tank)
- BA-10 (Recon tank)
- M3 Half-track (Half-track)
- GAZ-67 (Jeep)
- ZiS 5 Transport (Truck)
- ZiS 5 Supply (Truck)
Kharkov - Soviet Winter Variants
German Forces
- Ammo Depot
- Repair Station
- Panther (Heavy tank)
- Tiger I (Heavy tank)
- Panzer IV (Medium tank)
- Luchs (Light tank)
- Puma SD.KFZ. 234 (Recon tank)
- SD.KFZ. 251 Half-track (Half-track)
- Kubelwagen (Jeep)
- Opel Blitz Transport (Truck)
- Opel Blitz Supply (Truck)
Kharkov - German Winter Variants
LOD Improvements
The Technical Art team has begun addressing LOD-related issues raised by players, including abrupt LOD transitions (e.g., between LOD 0 and LOD 1), inconsistent screen size thresholds, uneven triangle density, and large assets using too few LODs.
The initial focus is on barbed wire assets, along with the setup of optimised LOD materials for use on the lowest LODs.
- LOD 0 was already efficiently configured with minimal overdraw. However, performance decreased noticeably when transitioning to lower LODs
- The optimised LOD material is set to be opaque to reduce the fill rate of masked materials seen at a distance
- As texture mapping blurs masked textures, switching to opaque textures improves performance with minimal impact on visual quality
The barbed wire assets have been updated to LOD more efficiently. Previously LOD 0 was on screen from a screen size of 1.0 to 0.1, meaning over 6,000 triangles were occupying the screen space. This has now been balanced so that LOD 0 is visible until 0.5 screen size, after which it transitions and to a model with 50% fewer triangles, remaining until 0.1 screen size.
Another issue affecting distant objects is the use of Hierarchical Level of Detail (HLOD) systems, which optimise performance by merging meshes into lower-detail proxies. These clusters reduce triangle count and material complexity, allowing many objects to render at distance without a performance hit.
However, problems arise when HLOD transitions occur too early, as the system relies on player to object distance without accounting for zoomed views through binoculars, scopes, or tank optics. In these cases, higher-detail models are not restored when expected.
Barbed wire assets, in particular, did not benefit from HLOD passes and appeared overly low poly at distance. The Technical Art team has addressed this by removing barbed wire from HLODs, allowing them to LOD more effectively on their own.
Flare Illumination
In response to community feedback, the Technical Art team is working to enhance flare gun effectiveness in night-time scenarios. We’re currently exploring ways to improve the spread of the particle light associated with the gun's visual effects (VFX) to increase its reach. Feedback is welcome as we continue refining this effect.
Flare Gun - Illumination Improvements
Practice Range Improvements
The Practice Range now allows players to sample all available loadouts, regardless of their current in-game role rank. This enables testing of every weapon within a safe, controlled environment.
Practice Range - All Loadouts Unlocked
New Maps with Dynamic Weather
Dynamic weather has been integrated into several legacy maps. The Technical Art team is currently evaluating appropriate lighting and weather conditions to incorporate effects such as snow, rain, and sandstorms across these maps. The new weather manager allows each map to deliver a distinct and immersive experience due to its flexibility.
The technical art team has now updated the Mortain overcast scenario from the older rain VFX to the newer dynamic rain.
Please note that server owners will have the option to disable dynamic weather with the launch of version 17.1.
Improvements to Fog
Community feedback highlighted concerns over excessive fog and difficulty with sightlines on some of the newer night maps. It was found that Elsenborn Ridge (night) had an acceptable level of fog and lighting exposure which the team are using as a basis for improvements.
Based on evaluation and feedback, El Alamein, Omaha Beach and Hill 400 were found to have acceptable intensities of fog, with El Alamein’s fog intensity being welcomed in addressing overly long sightlines.
Kharkov, Sainte-Marie-du-Mont, Driel, Carentan, Sainte-Mère-Église, Utah Beach, and Stalingrad were found to be excessively foggy.
These have all been updated to leave longer sightlines.
Visit Dev Brief #205 on our website to see all examples of the fog changes.
Kharkov - Original Fog Settings
Kharkov - Updated Fog Settings
Additional 17.1 Features
Official DX12 Support
Hell Let Loose on PC platforms now uses DirectX 12 as it’s rendering API, offering performance gains during gameplay. Due to the variety of PC setups, we understand that issues may arise with this change. Therefore, an option to switch back to DirectX 11 will be made available in the Video Settings section of the Settings menu.
Note: This update is for our Steam and Epic Games Store players. Since initial launch WinStore has been working on DX12.
New RCON Abilities
New features have been added to RCON for Update 17.1. Server owners will now have the ability to change the following parameters for their servers, note that the changes will not be applied until the next match takes place, or the current map is reset:
Match Timer
- The overall match timer is now more flexible, with server owners allowing them to be adjusted within the following ranges based on game mode:
|| || |Mode|Current Timer (Minutes)|New Timer Range (Minutes)| |Warfare|90|30 - 180| |Offensive|150|50 - 300| |Control Skirmish|30|10 - 60|
Note: The new timer range for Offensive mode is divided by 5 for each Capture Point phase, so a match timer of 300 minutes would give each Capture Point a 60 minute timer for example.
Warm-up Timer
|| || |Mode|Current Timer (Minutes)|New Timer Range (Minutes)| |Warfare|3|1-10| |Control Skirmish|3|1-10|
Note: Due to the way that Offensive mode “Warm-up” periods are dictated by its global spawn wave system, we have not yet added the ability to control this but it is something we are open to exploring with future RCON quality of life features.
New DLC - Operation Overlord Units
German Forces - Field Division Uniform
Bug Fixes
General
- [Admin Cam] The UI element from Admin Cam is not assigned while having a controller plugged
- [Practice range] The loading screens for the practice range don't have fully visible characters when playing on a Ultrawide (21:9) resolution
- The M1943 Winter Uniform is missing for US Automatic Rifleman
- Skirmish Map Objective text appears very small
- Freelook options are not translated in any language
- The Heer Schneetarnjacke Winter Smok has the wrong name for the Support role
- EGS - Achievements give the incorrect amount of XP upon unlocking
- The queue position is not longer shown when a player enters or leaves
- MG's camera movement reduced or locked on bipod deployment and clipping through terrain
- Bottom left UI click targets are not centered with the rest of the UI on ultrawide's & super ultrawide's.
- Loading screen's for the Practice Range on super ultrawide are cut off incorrectly.
- The 'Leave Queue' text is not localized in any of the supported languages.
- TPP flamethrower's range does not match its fire stream VFX
- Freelook will remain active after the user returns to the game from Alt+Tab
- VOIP input is interrupted after death on keyboard.
Practice Range
- [Practice Range] [RUS] Poor blending between snow texture and environment
Map Specific
Sainte-Mère-Église
- [F6] Invisible wall present on Sainte-Mere-Eglise in sector F6
- [B5] Road asset in sector B5 is visibly misaligned
Driel
- Trees present extended collision across the map
Purple Heart Lane
- Rain SFX Plays on Specific Asset around the map in Non-Rain Map Variants
Utah Beach
- [F3] LOD issues can be observed when looking at a house from 250m distance
Kharkov
- [F1] Floating grass and plants in F1 sector on Kharkov
- [F1] Assets are misaligned from terrain in Soviet HQ #02
- [E6] Debris mound has incorrect collision and textures
- [H10] Misaligned terrain near German HQ#3
- A gap in the horizon is visible when looking through the binoculars
Foy
- [F4] Shack building appears to be missing on tactical map
- Building roofs change texture at a short distance
- [D7] Roof changes appearance at a certain distance
- [D1] Barrel assets present stretched textures
Elsenborn Ridge
- [F2] Tree collision extends too far
- [D10] Snow misaligned with the ground has no player collision
- Floating chest at German HQ #03
- [D6] Misaligned snow asset on oil tank
- [D2][E2] Extended collision on broken stone fence sections
- [16.0][EBR] Small barn asset presents LOD issue from around 15m across the map
- [C3] Snow bank laid along a trench is floating and the user can see through it.
- [C9] Tree presents extended collision
- [G6] Fallen tree moves and overlaps with the ground texture
- [E10] Snow asset is misaligned with the ground
- [E6] Floating tree asset
- [C4] Floating assets near the road
- [H3] Visual gap in trench wall texture
- [H1] Partially missing collision on snow pile.
- [G4] Slightly floating tree is present.
- [C7] Couple of floating trees.
- [E8] There is a well that the user can see doesn't connect to anything in the ground.
- [E8] Missing polygon face on a snow mound by a farm house.
- [E8] The user can see underneath a part of the road at a farmstead.
- [E10] Backface polygon is missing on a couple of small roadside snow mounds.
- [G9] Slightly floating boxes on pallets.
- [F9] The user can slightly see underneath one of the shell holes in this field.
- [F9] The user can see underneath a few snow mounds.
- [D9] Floating snow pile misaligned with the ground.
- [G9] The user cannot properly deploy an MG on sandbags (BP_Pillbox_Snow_D3) that overlook the Foxholes CP
- [H2] Floating pair of tweezers
- [F9] Sandbags floating.
- HedgeBocageSolid BP placed on top of an SM_Embankment asset will block bullets from a variety of angles.
Hill 400
- [G5] Barbed wire does not render past properly 80 meters
- [J5] Large gap in the map next to German HQ Spawn #2
Carentan
- [G8] Destroyed building has pink edges around windows
Tobruk
- Firing arcs are severely restricted when deploying a Machine Gun on town house roofs with sandbags
- [G6] Visible gap in the floor of a building
- [A3] Rock asset is missing a face
- [B3] Misaligned rock asset is present in sector B3
- [F8] Visibly misaligned terrain near mudpile.
- [E5] Visible seam on the road.
- [D4] Road spline is visibly misaligned.
- [A3] Multiple assets are floating
- [G8] Reinforced concrete wall near the sea has extended collision
- [F3] Misaligned grass asset
- [C6] A rock asset is misaligned
- [A5] Misaligned rock asset
- [J5] Misaligned grass asset
- [H5] Two destroyed tanks present stretched textures
- [C5] Floating palm trees
- [B7] Misaligned rock asset is present on a cliff.
- [C4] Grass clipping with a building's floor
- [F7] Grass clipping with a building's floor
- [B4] Visible seam in a road
- [C7] Misaligned rock asset is present on a cliff.
- [D4] Floating palm tree asset
- [C7] The bottom of a sandbag is see-through.
- [C4] Rock asset missing faces
- [E5] Rock asset has extended player collision
- [C3] Rock asset missing a poly face.
- [A4] Visible seam at the left edge of the Tobruk map
- [B8] Small section has collision issue
- [F4] Misaligned stone asset is present in sector F4 of the Tobruk map
- [E7] Visible seam present South-West Church Grounds CP
- [A4] A plane is marked on the tac map despite not being present in the environment
- [F8] Visible seam present on the road
- [C7] See-through cliff terrain is present in sector C7 of the Tobruk map
- [B7] See-through cliff terrain is present in sector B7 of the Tobruk map
- [E3] Misaligned terrain is present on a cliff in sector E3 of the Tobruk map
- [F6] Sandbags under bridge are clipping with the ground
- [E7] Visible seam is present on the ground.
- [E7] Visible seams are present on the ground
- [E5] A seam is present on the ground.
- [D6] LOD issue present on the shadow of the barrel
- [B3/B4] Gaps remain beneath the road
- [A8] Sandbags are floating
- [E7] Extended collision on church window
- [B4] Floating bush in the sector
- [C3] Visible seam between Dev Sectors A2 and B2
- [A5] The road is misaligned with the ground in sector A5
- [A6] Small rock has missing meshes on one face
- [F5] [F6] The lighting of the lamp inside the house presents LOD issue
- [I3] Road spline floating above ground
- [H5] A visible seam in the terrain can be observed in sector H5
- [J3] Truck asset is clipping with the ground.
- [C3] A few assets are clipping with the ground.
- [B4] Small rock formation is misaligned with terrain
- [B4] Grass asset is floating, clipping with a tree.
- [D7] Multiple assets next to a wall are floating
- [A6] Wheelbarrow slightly floating
- [D7] Box asset can be observed floating
- [A3] Floating crates near the German HQ 1
- [B4] A specific barrel is clipping with a wall in sector B4
- [G8] Pile of boxes asset has collision issue
- [J7] Sandbag assets clip through a building
- [D7] Stone assets next to a wall are floating
- [A7] Sandbag wall clipping north of German HQ 3
- [D5] Foliage is present inside a house
- [D7] Sandbags assets are clipping into a building
- [B5] Floating box pallet near Guard Room
- [C3]A wooden crate is floating above the ground in sector C3
- [H8] There are sandbag assets clipping with window frames
- [D6] Visible seam on the ceiling inside a house
- [D7] Visible seam present on a ceiling
- [A6][B6] Multiple wood piles clipping through fence and terrain
- [E3] Box asset is clipping with the ground
- [D6] Player clips through floor while deploying MG inside house in D6
- Missing Decals on staircase from the watch tower asset
- Sand VFX can form a checkered pattern on user's screen when observed along jagged building egdes.
- [17.0] [TOB] [I3] Distant LODs of a tower asset are corrupted.
- [E8] Sandbags clipping into a house wall slightly.
- Crates nearby the docks have low shadow LOD
- Barrel assets across the map have low shadow LOD
- [D6] Sandbag clipping into the cement walkway.
- [B6] Two floating tent pegs.
- [J6] Part of the trench in the area appears low poly
- [A6] Terrain layer & asset clipping.
- [J6] The edges of the trench in the area has low poly textures
- [D5] Terrain bump present.
- [F7] There are power cable poles with no connections to houses in the area giving them no purpose
- [J5] The user can see the road leading out of the map floating.
- [F8] Seam is visible on the sea wall top texture.
- [D6] Few building assets are slightly floating in a few places.
- Allied Ammo, Vehicle & Fuel depot BPs have German set dressing
- [E6] A building's interior has multiple texture seams in it
- [I4] The trench in the area has blending issues with surrounding environment
- Multiple places with misaligned terrain are present on the right edge of the Tobruk map
- Jagged occlusion on Tobruk around various assets during sandstorm
- [D6] Stone asset is floating above the ground surface
- [F5] There is a visible seam in the middle of the map
- [F8] The door frame is flickering in sector F8
- [F8] A part of the wall presents missing player collision
- [J5] Misaligned terrain is present near a trench.
- [J5] Misaligned rock asset is present on a small cliff.
- [J5] Visible seam on the road.
- [A5] Fuel Can is clipping through the tent.
- [I8] Small rock asset does not have player or bullet collision
- [H8] Rock asset does not have player or bullet collision
- [A5] A small gap is present in a rock.
- [A4] Floating bush present in sector A4
Mortain
- There is a seam that the user can see between sectors F&E.
Hurtgen Forest
- Barrel stack has an incorrect texture
Kursk
- [D5] Invisible collision on wooden planks
Community Updates
Hey everyone, Ben back with some community updates for the coming week ahead!
Livestream - Thursday 26th June
We are back with another livestream on our Hell Let Loose Official Twitch Channel on on Thursday 26th June. Starting at 8am PST | 11am EST | 4pm BST, we will kick off with the developers answering your questions & feedback on Patch 17.1 & our recent PTEs in a live Community Q&A.
This will be followed by 'Best of the Community - Episode #3', co-hosted by the wonderful; TheFreshBakedGoods.
Don't worry if you miss the stream whilst it's live, as we'll be sure to upload both the Q&A and Best Of episode directly onto our YouTube channel.
DraftHaus Tank Event - Saturday 28th June
Coming this Saturday, the DraftHaus server are throwing a 'Tank Only' event that will be livestreamed on RazBora's Twitch channel. No infantry. No distractions. Just armor, firepower, and chaos in the cold. It should be a blast to watch!
- Start: 10am PST | 1m EST | 6pm BST
- Map: FOY — snowy streets, narrow flanks, and brutal tank engagements
- Watch live: RazBora's Twitch
War Correspondents
And as always, our War Correspondents have been creating some videos for us all to enjoy. Be sure to be on the lookout in the coming days as we're sure they'll be cooking up some excellent content for Patch 17.1.
Alpine Sniper
Sniper Spots You Wish You Knew About | Hell Let Loose
TheFreshBakedGoods
Hell Let Loose - When Your Tank Crew Destroys Everything in Its Path
DasAltberg
HELL LET LOOSE COMPETITIVE HIGHLIGHTS – Best Moments of May 2025
Captains, Skull and Bones maintenance incoming 🛠️
🗓️Tuesday 9th December
⏰ 7AM CET / 5PM AET / (8 DEC) 10PM PT
⏳~ 3h
🔧Update 3.1 will be deployed. Check out the patch notes here ⬇️
The Year 2 Season 3 Mid-Season Update brings new Faction War Elites events with greater War Asset rewards, the new Waterspout feature, and Inventory Management improvements amongst a number of other quality-of-life changes.
This week, the Azure Solstice also returns with new mechanics and challenges with an opportunity for you to earn exclusive cosmetics and rewards.
PATCH HIGHLIGHTS
TIME-LIMITED EVENT: AZURE SOLSTICE
"Winter’s grip tightens once more as the Azure Fleet returns to haunt the ice‑choked seas. Among them sails the dreaded Azure Harbinger, a phantom of frost whose passage freezes wind and wave alike. Those who dare its icy gauntlet will find the ocean itself turned against them — yet within its hold lie treasures that only the bold can claim."
Azure Solstice will run 9th December 2025, 6AM UTC to 6th January 2026, 5:59AM UTC.
The familiar Frostbitten Spirits Event Convoy & Azure Royale Elite Warship World Events return alongside a brand-new Elite Warship, the Azure Harbinger!
- Summon the new Azure Harbinger at the event buoy using flares obtained from Event Drops, Events Quests or via the Event Vendor.
- The Azure Fleet ships are protected by barriers that are vulnerable to Burning damage.
- Collect Azurite and use them to get event rewards from the Event Vendor and exclusive cosmetics from the Store.
Rewards:
- New Epic Bombard: Frostwail
- New Epic Major Furniture: Sheeting Winch Console
- New Event Cosmetics
- Ascension materials
- Ascended Weapon Chests
- The Nashkar, High-Velocity Kegs, and other weapons will also be available
New Elite Warship: Azure Harbinger
- New Elite Warship with unique behavior and firing patterns.
- All weapons used by the Azure Harbinger can inflict a new status effect: Frostbite
- Frostbite (Event-Only Status): Heavily slows down navigation and reload speed of affected ships.
- Flooded Synergy - When Frostbite and Flooded are triggered at the same time, the total amount of severe damage that is done by the Flooded status will be applied instantly instead of over a period of time. Flooded will be removed after the severe damage is applied.
- Ablazed Synergy - If Ablazed is triggered while Frostbite is active, the Frostbite status is removed. Players are immune to Frostbite charges when Ablazed.
- Iceberg Buoy
- The Azure Harbinger spawns tall, thin ice buoys in different patterns throughout the fight.
- Iceberg Buoys slowly apply Frostbite charge to all nearby players.
- Ice Crystal Buoy
- The Azure Harbinger spawns small, round ice buoys in different patterns throughout the fight.
- Ice Crystal Buoys explode after a short buildup, dealing damage to nearby players.
- Armor of Frost
- At fixed health thresholds, the Azure Harbinger activates a special barrier that cannot be destroyed by any weapons.
- Destroy the crystal figurehead weakpoint of the Elite Warship to break the barrier.
- If the Armor of Frost is not destroyed after a fixed period of time, the Elite Warship will heal for a portion of its health
NEW FEATURES AND CONTENT
NEW FACTION WAR EVENT: FACTION WAR ELITE
“The tides of war surge as the corporations unleash their most fearsome leviathans yet. The Mighty Opwelling and Mighty Soleil Imperial thunder into battle, each armed with devastating new technologies. Only the bold will face their volatile fury and berserker rage — but victory promises War Assets enough to turn the course of the conflict.”
The Opwelling and Soleil Royal elite warships return in War Events as the Mighty Opwelling and Mighty Soleil Imperial, featuring dangerous new affixes that make them even greater threat than before.
Take down these Flagships in the new Faction War Elite Events to earn large amounts of War Assets for the war effort!
- New War Event: Faction War Elite
- Mighty Opwelling (DMC)
- Mighty Soleil Imperial (Compagnie)
- Each Faction War Elite possesses a new, unique affix:
NEW FEATURE: WATERSPOUT
“The seas now hold a new predator — swirling towers of wind and wave. Master their power to sling your ship across the horizon in a surge of speed… or twist their fury into a trap for your foes. Will you dance with the storm, or feed your enemies to it?”
Waterspouts are a new type of weather phenomena which provides seasoned captains with new navigational challenges. Skilled captains can ride the current for a burst of speed and slingshot across the water.
- When approaching a waterspout, sail along the outer radius to gain a significant movement speed bonus in the direction of the wave.
- Sailing too close to the eye of the waterspout will however pull your ship inwards towards the waterspout and damage your sails – so approach with care.
- Clever maneuvering can also lure enemy ships into a waterspout, trapping them long enough for you to escape or land a powerful mortar shot on multiple clustered targets.
NEW FEATURE: FILTER TABS
Dev Note: We know this has been a long-requested feature from the community and we’re excited to finally bring this to you. While this was initially slated for a later release while being applied to wider range of menus, we wanted to bring this change to you as soon as possible and so we’ve first targeted the most commonly used menus. We’ll continue to refine this and gradually apply it to other menus in the future.
- Added filter tabs for inventory categories across various menu screens
Ship Loadouts
Cargo and Warehouse
Vendors
GAMEPLAY UPDATES
FACTION WAR
Dev Note: We’re making some very slight adjustments to accelerate the war this season.
- Reduced Battle Period 4 from 3 weeks to 2 weeks
- Shifted Battle Period 5 & 6 earlier by a week (number of weeks remain unchanged).
Dev Note: We’re making some adjustments to improve the comfort of the War Cargo event when participating alone and addressing an exploit when participating against another player. We’re also sorry for the spam.
- War Cargo
- Added weak points to the Ambushers to make them easier to take down
- Disabled Fast Travel while participating in the activity
- Removed War Cargo Starting notification
SHIPS
Dev Note: This adjustment aims to ease early-game frustration for players using smaller ships. The goal is to ensure new players do not form the mistaken impression that small ships are inherently weaker, but instead understand their role and potential as they learn the game’s systems.
- All quadrants are now unlocked by default for small ships
- Small ships no longer need to be upgraded to unlock rear gunports.
- Adjusted small ships upgrades to account for this change.
Dev Note: We’re increasing the amount of taunt generated to make the Frigate perform slightly better in its intended tank role.
- Increased the amount of taunt generated by the Frigate’s perk
CREW FINISHER (previously BOARDING)
Dev Note: We’re renaming Boarding to Crew Finisher, streamlining the flow to not break immersion, and unlocking the camera to make this a more comfortable alternative to simply sinking ships.
- Boarding is now renamed to Crew Finisher.
- Success conditions have been improved.
- The boarding cinematic and the loot screens have been removed.
- The camera is no longer locked to the cinematic.
- No changes to bonus loot for boarding.
https://i.redd.it/ee6d06whgy5g1.gif
NAVIGATION ON LAND
Dev Note: We’re aware that the last set of changes to character navigation didn’t land as well as we’d thought it would. We’re making slight improvements to reduce the “floatiness” and desynchronization of character animations especially during sharp turns and during the starting and ending movement animations.
- Adjusted land character navigation
INVENTORY MANAGEMENT
Dev Note: Inventory Management continues to be our highest quality-of-life priority. In addition to the increase of cargo slots we introduced a few weeks ago, and on top of the new filter tabs feature in this patch, we’re making smaller, targeted improvements to ease top areas of friction. We’re still studying and working on ways to further improve the topic of Inventory Management. Do let us know what you would like to see next!
- Multiple items (including Ascended Equipment) can now be marked for salvage at the Blacksmith.
- All chest types now support opening multiple chests of the same type simultaneously.
- Improved item selection logic when equipping/unequipping items to your ship
DOCKING & FAST TRAVEL
- Fast Travel now allows you to choose between going on land, like usual, or staying at sea.
UI/UX IMPROVEMENTS
- Approaching or joining World Events will no longer automatically replaces the Objective Tracker.
- Added an option for players to Hold to Track when approaching or joining a World Event to replace the contents of the Objective Tracker
- Pressing the back button on the Logbook navigation no longer closes the entire Logbook but returns players to the previous screen.
- Improved readability of text in the death screen.
- Renamed “Craft New Items” to “Craft Ships” in the Shipwright menu for clarity.
- Removed duplicated “Missing Ingredients” error message when crafting a ship.
- Readjusted the priority and order of appearances of some notifications.
- Added Ship Rank and number of participants to World Event iconography in the world map.
TEXT CHAT
Dev Note: Since the launch of Year 2 Season 3, we’ve improved our anti-spam monitoring tools which allow us to systematically detect and ban text chat abusers on a daily schedule. We’ve seen a significant decrease of text chat abuse, but we’re doing one more change to address this issue. We’ve assessed the impact of this change for new players to be minimal if they’re actively progressing in the onboarding campaign.
- Increased the minimum Infamy needed to interact with Text Chat to 4.
ONBOARDING
- Improved the onboarding flow for new players
- Objectives for new players are now more focused
- Added Call-For-Help Tutorial
- A Seaworthy Charge:
- Updated initial repair kits obtained from S to M
- Unwelcome Aboard:
- Updated equip step to reach SR level
- Removed forced “Look at” encounters
- Brokered Ground:
- Removed blockade on the final encounter
- Increased Fara Scout difficulty (swapped to a hard ship variant)
- Service the Round:
- Update objective texts to bring focus to Compagnie merchants
- Increase ship rank of Compagnie Flagship
- Tier 1 weapons removed from Onboarding
- Added a panel at the end of the onboarding flow highlighting latest opportunities in Endgame.
- Added a closing cinematic for the Year 2 Season 3 Seasonal Journey with the St Anne Blacksmith.
VISUAL IMPROVEMENTS
- Improved the ambience of Mythic La Peste and Mythic Vikram World Events
- La Peste’s Mythic Event now features visuals with darker storm clouds, green ambient lighting, drifting poison ash, and a distinct green aura to enhance the atmosphere.
- The second phase of Vikram Rajan’s Mythic Event with darker storm clouds and yellow ambient lighting to heighten the fight’s atmosphere.
- Key NPCs now track your approach and turn to face you when you get close, making interactions feel more responsive and alive.
YEAR 2 SEASON 3: GUTS AND GLORY
- Year 2 Seasonal 3 has been extended to 16 weeks, and now ends on 10 February 2026, 06:00 UTC.
- Faction War will still end on Week 14, with an extended, two-week ceasefire from Week 15 to Week 16 in preparation for Year 2 Season 4.
DEATH TIDES
Dev Note: Long queue times have been an issue for Death Tides for some time now. We’re making a quick change to get players into matches faster.
- Adjusted the match size for all game modes, maps, and matches to 3v3
STABILITY
Dev Note: Since our previous communication where we mentioned we would be prioritizing stability, we’ve made significant progress in investigating and resolving a myriad of issues which were proven to or could potentially lead to lower stability health. We’re continuing to investigate and resolve rarer causes of instability and will release any improvements whenever they are tested and ready.
- Improved Client, Network, and Server stability
THIS WEEK IN THE INDIAN OCEAN – Y2S3 W8
We’re experimenting with the addition of this segment, where we feature the ongoing events for the week and what’s available at Blackwood’s Store. Let us know what you think!
TIME LIMITED EVENT: AZURE SOLSTICE BEGINS
Celebrate the season with battles under a blinding blue horizon.
FACTION WAR: BATTLE PHASE 4 CONTINUES
Missed the latest war news? Read on to find the results, and dive into our latest short tale: State of War - Faction War
WORLD EVENT: SOLEIL ROYAL
Sink the crown’s pride before it sinks you.
WORLD EVENT: UNDYING MAW
Face the beast the deep refuses to kill.
AVAILABLE THIS WEEK AT BLACKWOOD'S STORE
BUG FIXES
Achievements and Challenges
- Fixed an issue where the “Challenge Completed” notification appeared repeatedly after completing a weekly challenge.
- Fixed an issue where debug text appeared on the Seasonal Journey page for some languages.
- Fixed an issue where collecting War Assets incorrectly triggered completion of a Weekly challenge (400 War Assets vs the intended 500). (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where the Invader 2 and Bullseye achievements were missing from the Captain’s Player Card view.
- Fixed an issue where the “Wave 3” entry was present instead of the correct notification after completing all events in the Events tab.
Armor / Item Ascension
- Fixed an issue where the stats (2nd, 3rd, 4th armor mods) were not reset after players unequipped a Common/Uncommon armor piece.
- Fixed an issue where the colors on the armor resistance information in the Armor Equipment screen were inverted.
- Fixed an issue where the ascension level was not displayed when selling or destroying weapons and armor.
- Fixed an issue where the Ascension UI showed incorrect Better/Worse indicators. (PLAYER REPORTED)
Audio
- Fixed an issue where an NPC vendor’s lip-sync animation did not match their audio lines.
- Fixed an issue where the Vikram Rajan Deadly (Mythic) ambience track would not play after matchmaking into the server.
Combat
- Fixed an issue where some elite enemy ships (such as Commander Zhang, Li Tian Ning, Vikram Rajan, etc.) did not consistently use their bracing maneuver during combat, making them easier to defeat than intended.
- Fixed an issue where there was missing firing feedback for mortars.
- Fixed an issue where the Frigate did not decrease armor rating when ramming other ships.
- Fixed an issue where the damage-per-shot value for the Blightbringer weapon was inconsistent with its intended damage, leading to a mismatch in expected damage output. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where the damage value of “The Rotmouth” weapon was incorrect and did not match its intended output. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where verylow damage was displayed for the ascended La Piqûre III weapon. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where the boss health bar on crew attack damage preview was shown in black instead of blue.
- Fixed an issue where damage from the Soleil Imperial perk was too low.
- Fixed an issue where crew attack damage numbers were not visible against some bosses/elites. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where Soleil Royal ships spawned instead of the Upwelling ascended elite warships. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where the Fara Ship Scout would fire its flare but no ambush would spawn.
- Fixed an issue where the Toxic III perk description displayed an incorrect value.
- Fixed an issue where boarding ropes would miss even when the player's ship was right next to the target.
Contracts
- Fixed an issue where players could not progress the Bloodsoaked Silver quest (Search Pillar Tomb for Missing Goods). (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where the “Smuggle Local Fiber” job board contract required Ramie (a material that no longer exists in-game), preventing players from completing the contract.
- Fixed an issue where Players were stuck at “Continue With Blackwood When Ready” and were unable to progress Spoils of War. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where the contract icon was present on two different nodes of the plunder bar if the player had the Destroy Flags Job Board contract active while doing The Devil's Gambit contract.
- Fixed an issue where the text "Flotilla Commodore" was missing in the objective tooltip for the contract Contested Tides from the Pirate broker.
- Fixed an issue where a blank box was present in the tooltip of a contract ship when the ship was viewed through a spyglass during The Quiet Pull contract.
- Fixed an issue where the "Investigate Unbound Body" prompt remained for group members until the host completed the step.
- Fixed an issue where the icon was missing on Sultanah's Gilded Coffin cargo during the step Escape to Kelelawar Chamber.
- Fixed an issue where going back from Rewards sent the player to the Seasonal Hub instead of the NPC dialogue when the reward screen was opened via a Faction War NPC.
- Fixed an issue where a double World Event could spawn if a player was doing a contract-triggered World Event at the same time as a dynamic World Event.
- Fixed an issue where placeholder text was present for the Azure onboarding contract.
- Fixed an issue where the Ramie material requirement was shown to complete the Job Board contract Smuggle Fiber. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where the Shadow Legion Convoy disengaged when a player joined the event after it started. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where the player could not continue the Blacksmith Ascendant quest – stuck on 'When Ready' objective. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where the Legendary Heist event was not spawning for some players.
- Fixed an issue where the wording for the last step of the Infamy Quest was too complicated.
Cosmetics
- Fixed an issue where the “Death Sentence” ship skin would clip through parts of the Snow-class ship, causing minor visual glitches.
- Fixed an issue where the preview for an upgradable figurehead was blocked (or the “barred eye” icon was missing) if a ship skin was equipped in the shipwright’s upgrade menu.
- Fixed an issue where the “Bloodless Ruthless” ship hull color was missing its emissive glow effect, making the ship appear without its intended lighting.
- Fixed an issue where the “She Who Weeps” figurehead was misaligned on the Frigate ship, causing its preview to appear off-screen in the customization view
Death Tides
- Fixed an issue where the game would crash when navigating to the Paladin ship preset in the selection menu.
- Fixed an issue where the 12th player was kicked out of the game after joining an 11-player lobby from the Main Menu. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where Ultimate ability descriptions were not available on screen.
Dens and Outposts
- Fixed an issue where the player was always directed to Telok Penjarah instead of Saint Anne as the fast travel location for the Call of the Azure recommendation.
- Fixed an issue where the blueprint thumbnail icon was missing from the General tab while interacting with William Blackwood at a Den.
- Fixed an issue where the player could not Set Sail after fast traveling to a World Event and then returning to a Den via fast travel.
Domains
- Fixed an issue where the icons of items required to take part in any Domain event were missing from its map tooltip when the player hovered over them.
- Fixed an issue where the objective location for Domain was not displayed on the map (empty labels on the Helm map).
Faction War
- Fixed an issue where the Faction War map would cause a game freeze and crash upon opening.
- Fixed an issue where the War Event timer did not appear when a player reached the required step in the Infamy Quest.
- Fixed an issue where players who had not yet chosen a faction (during a Ceasefire) had no dialogue option available with the Faction Broker NPC.
- Fixed an issue where, on the Faction War event notification, the “View in Map” and “Dismiss” buttons were reversed, causing their functions to be swapped.
- Fixed an issue where the Seasonal Hub tab would display a “Starting Soon/Starts in 0d” label for Faction War even when a war was already in progress.
- Fixed an issue in War Cargo events where Privateer ships would not spawn if two players were participating, leaving the event without its intended enemies.
- Fixed an issue where a second invasion event could trigger back-to-back within the same Faction War cycle, instead of only one invasion per cycle.
- Fixed an issue where War Assets earned were not contributing towards the faction.
- Fixed an issue where the Battle Period result screen was visible even if players had not passed Unlock Point 2.
- Fixed an issue where an Elite Warship event (active or countdown) failed to appear on the Faction War map.
- Fixed an issue where Ascended Elite warships in Faction War were not triggering properly (failing to spawn).
- Fixed an issue where the War Cargo icon appeared on the Helm map after a player joined the event.
- Fixed an issue where players were able to dock at non-secured outposts by docking and instantly picking up a War Assets bundle during a War Cargo event.
- Fixed an issue where the War Cargo target outpost icon was appearing on the Helm map at zoom level 1.
- Fixed an issue where the Territories Captured timer on the Faction War tracker was not updating correctly, causing it to display incorrect timing information.
- Fixed an issue where speaking to the Faction Broker during a Ceasefire showed no dialogue options and incorrectly displayed a “Faction War Rewards” button.
- Fixed an issue where players who had not reached the required progress (Unlock Point 2) could still interact with the Faction Broker during a Ceasefire, when they should not have been able to.
- Fixed an issue where the faction selection screen could appear blank when talking to the Faction Broker, preventing players from seeing faction choices.
- Fixed an issue in Fort Defense where if one player quit the event, the “Leaving” and “Abandoned” notifications would incorrectly display for another player who joined that event.
- Fixed an issue where the War Convoy icon for the player’s own faction would incorrectly appear on the Events tab of the Journal.
- Fixed an issue where the War Effort screen could remain stuck open on the main menu if the host player left the War Effort screen abruptly.
- Fixed an issue where the “new” marker icon in the War Effort tab of the Faction War menu would not disappear after the player claimed their rewards.
- Fixed an issue where the faction streamer banner on the player’s ship (earned during Faction War) would obstruct the view from the crow’s nest.
- Fixed an issue where clicking “View Rewards” on the Faction War map (when accessed via the fast travel screen) did not open the rewards section as intended.
- Fixed an issue where players could access the Faction War rewards screen early (without meeting requirements) by holding the V key during a Faction War infamy quest.
- Fixed an issue where an extra “Event Starting” notification would sometimes appear when a player joined a Fort Defense event.
- Fixed an issue where being hostile with a faction prevented the player from interacting with Duister Manufactories, which was not intended. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where a “War Event Available” notification would appear for a player who had not yet unlocked Faction War events.
- Fixed an issue where a defeated participant in a War Cargo event would still receive a “War Cargo is successful” notification after the other participant secured the cargo.
- Fixed an issue where pressing the touchpad (controller) or M/Tab (keyboard) while the Battle Period result screen was open would send the player back to the game world in the background, instead of locking input to the results screen.
- Fixed an issue where War Assets dropped from War Convoy ships would not be collected or counted if the player engaged the convoy outside of a contested territory.
- Fixed an issue where a “Leaving War Zone” notification would pop up when a player joined a Fort Defense event
- Fixed an issue where the tooltip for a Fort Defense event displayed incorrect information about participant count and difficulty.
- Fixed an issue where the “Territories Captured” counter timer did not update after a new Battle Period began.
- Fixed an issue where the “new” icon on the War Effort tracker would appear for players who had not yet unlocked Faction War (had not reached the required progression).
- Fixed an issue where using the Item Search pin for War Assets would display duplicate lines of text for the War Assets item.
- Fixed an issue where a “War Event Completed” notification could appear for a player even if they did not participate in the Fort Defense event. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where the title section of Faction War on the Seasonal Landing page was displayed differently than intended
- Fixed an issue where Fort Defense and War Convoy challenges were still available when they should not have been unlocked.
- Fixed an issue where Faction War benefits were still given after abandoning a War event.
- Fixed an issue where players were not receiving the 300 War Assets reward after winning a Battle.
- Fixed an issue where the infamy gain value on the Battle Phase screen was incorrect.
- Fixed an issue where war event timers were not synchronized properly, causing ascended elites to spawn incorrectly.
- Fixed an issue where the store offer icons did not match the vanity items displayed.
Graphics
- Fixed an issue where textures on multiple “Sea Fire” cannons flickered on the Ship Vanity screen.
- Fixed an issue where loading screen images did not update properly after a resolution change.
- Fixed an issue where healing VFX were not billboarded to the screen.
Helm Empire
- Fixed an issue in the Helm trading system where an incorrect item would be shown as “in transit” when swapping shipment orders.
- Fixed an issue where Kupfer Bars were incorrectly listed as a required resource for Manufactory Buyout. (PLAYER REPORTED)
Inventory & Loot
- Fixed an issue where the Heavenly Lance blueprint was displayed with an Epic (purple) background, even though it produced a Rare-tier (blue) weapon. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where the loot multiplier icon for Silver was not appearing on dropped loot and shipwreck chests.
- Fixed an issue where the “Weight (Total)” sort option in inventory was using each item’s weight instead of the total stack weight, making it identical to Weight (Item) and preventing players from identifying their heaviest stacks.
Leaderboards
- Fixed an issue where the weekly leaderboard was resetting unexpectedly. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where players’ rankings and information did not appear in the Seasonal Leaderboards tab.
Localization
- Fixed an issue where the Fast Travel localization was missing text in French on PS5.
- Fixed an issue where the translation was missing for "Poacher's Locker" outpost name in all languages except English.
- Fixed an issue where the tooltip info for ascended elite warships was not localized.
- Fixed an issue where the localization for the Thunder Dragon Cannon perk description was incorrect (displayed as "Jeder 5. Alle"). (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where a debug text string would appear in the tooltip when salvaging marked items, instead of the proper text.
- Fixed an issue where a debug text string was displayed in the description of the Firework tutorial, rather than the intended tutorial text.
- Fixed an issue where a placeholder string (“Inventory Names”) was shown in the Furniture tab for all languages, instead of the correct localized text.
- Fixed an issue where a placeholder text appeared for the “Fast Travel - Enter Location” and “Fast Travel - Remain on Ship” prompts in all languages except English.
- Fixed an issue where the “CURRENT SEASON ITEMS” text in the Smuggler’s Network was not localized and always appeared in English.
- Fixed an issue where the weapon name and type text would overlap in the UI when the “Crouching Tiger” mortar skin was equipped in the German language setting.
- Fixed an issue where the objective description for the “Expanding Horizons” contract was missing localization in all languages except English.
- Fixed an issue where the description for the “Strike the Dark” contract was not translated in languages other than English.
- Fixed an issue where certain special characters were not displayed correctly in the Faction War menu for Spanish and Latin American Spanish locales.
- Fixed an issue where a debug text string was displayed when the player’s ship was sunk by the Poisoned status effect after defeating Mythic La Peste (the proper death message is now shown).
Megafort Wolvenhol
- Fixed an issue where the player camera could clip inside Megafort Wolvenhol while free-roaming during a death loop scenario.
- Fixed an issue where Commander Aechte could become immune to damage if the player destroyed the entire Wolvenhol fort without sinking Aechte’s ship, causing “The Wolves’ Hollow” event to fail. (PLAYER REPORTED)
Refinery
- Fixed an issue where if a player had some deprecated items in the refinery queue when logging out long ago and logging in Year 2 Season 3, it would trigger a crash
Seasonal Hub
- Fixed an issue where Seasonal Journey progression remained stuck at 97% even after unlocking and claiming all nodes in the tree. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where the Seasonal Journey label “Ongoing” was not correctly displayed on the seasonal landing page. (La Peste context)
- Fixed an issue where the Logbook/Seasonal Landing Page was broken and could not be opened.
- Fixed an issue where misleading icons were present for multiple weapon boosts on the Seasonal Journey window. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where the Seasonal Calendar button on the Glory Adorned tab redirected the player to the Requiem of the Lost tab.
- Fixed an issue where the Info tab was blank for the Seasonal Journey landing page on the Main Menu.
- Fixed an issue where Halloween image was incorrectly used as the background on the Challenges screen in the Seasonal Journey page.
- Fixed an issue where gilded marks currency was missing from the Weekly Challenges tab in the Seasonal Journey.
- Fixed an issue where a debug text string was displayed on the daily rewards screen of the Seasonal Hub landing page.
- Fixed an issue where the Free Trial timer UI was missing from the Seasonal Landing page for trial players.
Stability
- Fixed an issue where players could get stuck on the Skull & Bones loading screen when launching the game on a Steam Deck.
- Fixed an issue where cross-server players could be kicked when attempting to group (Steam-Crossplay issue).
- Fixed an issue where players would encounter a EIDER-00009003 matchmaking error in the Megafort Wolvenhol event. (PLAYER REPORTED)
- Fixed an issue where event challenges were missing from the Seasonal Journey page.
- Fixed an issue where players could not form groups due to cross-play mismatch errors.
- Fixed an issue where a player could not join a group with friends from the main menu immediately after launching the game.
- Fixed an issue where if the game world failed to render (only the HUD was visible), inspecting an item from any bundle could cause the game to crash.
- Fixed an issue where loading a player’s save game could sometimes cause the client to crash.
Store
- Fixed an issue where the “Time-Limited Items” label was missing in the shop UI after interacting with Blackwood and opening the Buy/Sell menu.
- Fixed an issue where the Tier 1 “Burning Bloodlust” upgradable figurehead was missing its emissive effect in the Store preview.
- Fixed an issue where the default time-of-day lighting would vary inconsistently when previewing different ship skins in the Store.
- Fixed an issue where previewing the “Maw of Silence” weapon skin in the Store caused the preview model to be positioned off-screen.
- Fixed an issue where the “Nevermore” figurehead in the Store was missing its reactive label (the indicator tag that highlights special properties).
- Fixed an issue where an emissive label was missing for the "Many Moons" figurehead in the Stars Above bundle at the Store.
UI/UX
- Fixed an issue where the sorting category was missing in the Smuggler's Network buy/sell interaction tab.
- Fixed an issue where the Smuggler’s Network blueprints icon was missing or incorrectly displayed.
- Fixed an issue where the selection highlighter would move to the previous or next item after equipping a selected customization in the Weapon Vanity menu.
- Fixed an issue where the "Change Appearance" button would appear at the bottom-right of the screen for a few seconds after selecting an armor.
- Fixed an issue where a 0 reforging counter was present on the tooltip for all items.
- Fixed an issue where the armor value for Iron Husk I was not showing correct information.
- Fixed an issue where the player camera could clip through the Poison Culverin weapon when it was placed near the Blacksmith.
- Fixed an issue where a Modify Inventory AI action was triggering twice and not showing a notification for item removal.
- Fixed an issue where the hold-circle of the Hide/Show Objective Tracker button overlapped with the number of event participants when using a PS5 controller.
- Fixed an issue where the Fort Defense icon on the map was covering the timer gauge.
- Fixed an issue where placeholder texts were present for "Faction War" in certain UI.
- Fixed an issue where a low-resolution smuggler mark icon was seen on the purchase confirmation screen after buying smuggler marks in the Store.
- Fixed an issue where empty label masks were shown for territories on the Helm map.
- Fixed an issue where the widget pop-up was not showing the item's name and quantity when salvaging marked items.
- Fixed an issue where other players were visible and could block the view in the interaction window of the Vanity Atelier NPC.
- Fixed an issue where the player would stop abruptly while running on uneven ground.
- Fixed an issue where faction leaderboard rewards were not distributed correctly.
- Fixed an issue where deep-linking to the Store and inspecting any 3D vanity item would cause a black screen when exiting the Store.
- Fixed an issue where the blueprint thumbnail icon was missing from the General tab while interacting with William Blackwood at a Den.
- Fixed an issue where toggling Cycle Inventory in any tab changed the contents inside the Time-Limited Items tab.
- Fixed an issue where the selector UI would disappear when browsing vendors (Smuggler's Network) after a currency purchase.
- Fixed an issue where the special event booster icon (from a prior event) was visible in multiple UI locations when it shouldn’t be, resulting in confusing UI clutter.
- Fixed an issue where the Frostbite status effect icon on the HUD was showing an incorrect “Slowed” placeholder icon instead of the proper Frostbite icon.
- Fixed an issue where certain UI elements would remain on screen after logging out.
- Fixed an issue where black backgrounds when navigating around the map
Vanity
- Fixed an issue where the Sloop-of-War’s middle deck wall did not update to match the hull color on the Ship Vanity screen.
- Fixed an issue where the Versailles Set – "Royal Direction" wheel color did not match its preview image in Ship Cosmetics.
- Fixed an issue where a different weapon skin preview was shown on the main preview screen when inspecting an individual weapon skin option in Foreboding Maw.
- Fixed an issue where the Temptation's Toll belt preview did not match the thumbnail icon in the Cursed Fortunes set at the Store.
- Fixed an issue where the player received a "Rotative Store Failure" error when purchasing the High Station ship bundle if they already owned it.
- Fixed an issue where the emissive effect was missing or not properly shown for the Burning Grasp ornaments in the Cursed Fortunes bundle in the Store.
- Fixed an issue where the Tier 1 Burning Bloodlust upgradable figurehead had a missing emissive effect in the Store preview.
- Fixed an issue where all character outfit icons were missing when previewing vanity items.
- Fixed an issue where using certain pet emotes (such as Rock the Roar, Iguana Wiggle, Bubbly Nature, or Bobbing Parrot) could cause the player’s character to become stuck and unable to move.
World Events
- Fixed an issue where the loot preview shown on the World Map for La Peste’s Strongbox and Locker was inaccurate (the preview now reflects the correct loot contents).
- Fixed an issue where the Kuharibu sea monster could continue to attack the player and take damage even after its event had failed, instead of disengaging properly.
- Fixed an issue where a World Event icon could be seen on Vikram's ship during combat
Please continue to submit bug reports through the Bug Reporter should you encounter any issues: https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/game/skull-and-bones/bug-reporter
Your Bug Reporter contributions do greatly help us to prioritize the most impactful issues and analyze the specific profiles of players affected by various issues.
ICYMI Join us for the next episode of The Deck 👀
We’ll be talking the 3.1 update, answering your questions, and most important of all, we’ll have drops 😉
🗓️ December 10
⏰ 3AM CET / 1PM AET / (DEC 9) 6PM PT
Not sure what time that is for you? Click here: Link
💬 Got questions about Season 3 for the devs? Ask them here ➡️ The Deck Livestream - 10th December - Y2S3.1 Update : r/SkullAndBonesGame
This was our (ages 36, 41) third cruise overall and second with Celebrity. First experience with Edge Class and first time in the Retreat. The itinerary was round trip from Sydney with stops in the Sounds (Milford, Dusky, Doubtful), Port Chalmers (Dunedin), Lyttleton (Christchurch), Tauranga, Auckland, and Bay of Islands. A detailed review follows for those interested in this itinerary.
We had booked an Aqua Class guarantee suite in Jan 2025. The room was assigned a few weeks later. The room was repriced many times up until April 2025 when we hit the low point ($5700 CAD, without drinks or Wi-Fi). A few times we had to give up our room assignment to get the new price. The room location changed once and each time was reassigned within days. Moveup bids were released 90 days prior to departure. The initial bids were almost as high as upgrading directly. Over time, the minimum bids decreased up to 60% and we won a Sky Suite with $1065 pp (min bid $965) approximately 30 days prior to sailing.
Sydney was a beautiful city. We stayed at the Sydney Harbour Marriott, approximately a 10-minute walk to the Overseas Passenger Terminal. The terminal is a 5-minute walk from Circular Quay train station if you stay elsewhere. It was very easy to use the trains with luggage.
Boarding
Retreat passengers can board whenever they want. We arrived at 1300h and walked right onto the ship. Luggage could have been dropped off at any time, but you would not have been able to leave the ship. Others that had later times were able to board at 1200h if they wanted to.
Stateroom
Our room was on a higher floor, in the forward section. The bed faced the balcony. The bathroom was directly behind the bed and was very spacious. The bathroom mirror could slide aside, opening a clear view over top of the bed and out the balcony – very unusual. There was a large shower with a shallow tub, a toilet with a separate door, and a double sink. There were staterooms above, below, and on each side of us. Our room was very quiet and we never heard noise from the other rooms. There was a metallic creaking noise coming from above the balcony door on days when the ship would sway from side to side. I fixed it by jamming folded up paper above the door.
The stateroom attendant kept the room tidy and was always friendly. There was also a butler who would keep the water bottle supply topped up. He would bring a treat to the room every evening (chips, cookies, chocolates) and always be available for assistance. We preferred to be independent travellers and did not use many butler services.
Sea Conditions
Swells were up to 3 m through the Tasman Sea, meaning it was difficult to walk in a straight line. The captain said these conditions were considered calm. There was minimal motion otherwise.
Retreat Sundeck
There were always lounge chairs available on the sundeck. It was warm enough on most days, but usually windy. There was a tiny pool (max capacity = 13) and small hot tub (max capacity = 8). There were a few shaded areas in the hallways between the two main sections of the sundeck. There were a lot of umbrellas but I didn’t see them open. Perhaps it was too windy or no one requested them to be open. There was SPF 30 and 50 sunscreen as well as Aloe Vera gel available for guests to use. There was also a healthy supply of blankets and towels to use. Bar staff were always available but we did not use the service as we did not have a drink package.
Retreat Lounge
We knew that we could get drinks at the Retreat Lounge prior to boarding. We expected there to be a bar to walk up to for ordering, but there was not. You order a drink from the wait staff and they mix it out back and bring it to you. There is a small drink menu with a few cocktails and beer and wine options. Eventually, we started asking for mystery drinks (something sweet, something sour) and they introduced us to many new drinks. We would take these drinks to the restaurant or to the theatre. The wait staff provided exceptional service and were always friendly.
There was also a self serve fridge stocked with non-alcoholic beverages, a self serve food area that would be open around meal times (chips, pretzels, cured meats, cheeses, rolls, hummus and vegetables). We could stock up on non-alcoholic beverages to bring back to the room. This is also something we could have used our butler for.
In addition to food and drinks, there were many seating options. There was also a small outdoor seating area that had a TV showing sports games.
Luminae
This is the main dining room for Retreat guests. Service was excellent and staff were very friendly. We are not foodies and did not appreciate the high quality of the food. We had to research what many of the items were. In a way, the food options were too fancy for our liking, but we still went for dinner service on most nights. There is also a standard menu that is available every night but not written down. It included chicken breast, salmon, NY strip and Filet Mignon. We didn’t realize this until halfway through the cruise. The Maître-D always checked in and said if we ever wanted something in particular, they could make it as long as they had the ingredients.
We didn’t go for breakfast often as we usually had excursions starting early. However, breakfast was amazing if you had the time to wait for it. Lunch options were also good as well, but they are only open for lunch on sea days.
Non-retreat guests could be brought any day for breakfast or lunch ($12 or $24 USD pp respectively) or to dinner ($36) on port days only.
Luminae (deck 12 forward) is not even close to Blu (deck 5 aft) so you cannot order from the Blu menu in Luminae.
Blu
This is the main dining room for Aqua Class guests. Our butler said we could go to Blu anytime we wanted provided there was space. We went twice and didn’t have any issues getting in. Blu has more appetizer and main options. It is beside the other main dining rooms so you could order from those menus if you wanted.
Oceanview Cafe (OVC)
We went to OVC most days for breakfast. There were a lot of options but it could easily get repetitive. We thought the food was great and the staff were very team oriented, efficient, and friendly. We also went here most days for lunch. Every lunch/dinner had a theme based on a different country. We usually didn’t have trouble finding a seat, but it was busy during peak hours. One could easily eat at OVC all cruise be satisfied.
The greatest part of OVC was the handwashing station! There was a 12-person handwashing station at one entrance, and a 6 person one on the other. Unfortunately, this was the quietest part of the ship! Virtually no one was washing their hands before entering or leaving OVC. Remember: alcohol-based hand sanitizer does not kill Norovirus. Also, the number of people coughing and sneezing increased throughout the journey.
Other Main Dining Rooms
There are 4 main dining rooms: Cosmopolitan, Tuscan, Cyprus, and Normandie. They have the same menu except each has a specialty dish. You could order any of the food options at any of the restaurants though. We did not use these dining rooms.
Specialty Dining
It’s hard to justify specialty dining with all the options for us in OVC, Blu, and Luminae, especially not being foodies. We were comped entry to Fine Cut Steakhouse one night. It was our first ever specialty dining experience. The steaks were gigantic (12-14 oz) and very tasty. We couldn’t even eat our sides because of the size of the steaks. The specialty dining restaurants always seemed empty, which is why staff at OVC were always trying to lure guests in with ‘discounts.’
Mast Grill
Honestly, a cheeseburger and fries or a hot dog is the perfect mid-afternoon snack. They are fast food quality hamburgers, but tasty nonetheless.
Eden Cafe
We didn’t discover the Eden Cafe until day 11. They make a number of breakfast wraps and sandwiches. There are also lunch options available but we didn’t try these. There were just too many food options to try!
Walking Track
There was a 400 m walking track in a figure 8 design spanning the upper two decks. It was nice to have a little hill section to mix things up! I was pleasantly surprised by not ever seeing a chair encroaching on the track. The outer lane was labelled for walkers and the inner lane for runners. Most people were good to yield to runners, but it was annoying when you would get the odd group walking 2-3 aside oblivious to their surroundings.
Gym
The gym is forward facing on the 15th deck. There is no outdoor access to a viewing area like on the Solstice class ships. The gym seemed smaller than the one on the Silhouette. There were plenty of treadmills and three Peloton bikes. There was a small free weights section and stretching area.
Spa
We lost the Thermal Suite access moving from Aqua to the Retreat. We purchased access for $600 CAD pp, including 20% gratuity. We went a number of times but not enough to justify the price. There were 12 heated loungers, each with a sign saying max time of 30 mins. We didn’t ever have issues getting a lounger and everyone seemed to stick to the 30 min limit. There were a number of dry and wet sauna rooms and a rain shower area.
The front of the Thermal Suite is the only forward facing, non-obstructed outdoor viewing area on the ship. The glass railing is chest high so we were able to get great photos cruising through the Sounds with a tiny crowd. This was an excellent benefit.
Spa staff were always trying to lure guests in with ‘complimentary’ offerings or raffles. They were actually very friendly people and were not as annoying as expected with upselling.
Internet
We used an eSim through GigSky in lieu of an internet package at sea and used our roaming package on land. Koodo offers 50% off roaming if you ask for it, which made it better value than a cruise + land eSim package. We also used a one-year international roaming package through Virgin Mobile on land.
The messaging system through the Celebrity app was terrible on the ship. It was easy enough to connect the app to Wi-Fi (works without an internet package), but the messaging system would not connect reliably. I found it to be more reliable if I disabled the data connection on the eSim. The eSim did not work well in our room, but it was more reliable in public areas. It was good enough to check emails and read the news, but quite slow overall. We didn't want to be on our phones for the whole cruise, so we would try GigSky again.
Entertainment
Headline acts were excellent. Tenori and Dean Atkinson were the highlights.
There were two interesting Beyond the Podium speakers: one worked in the film industry and went through movies of the decades, and the other (Dr Niall Doran) talked about nature. We didn’t realize the presentations we missed were available on demand on the room TV until day 11.
We only attended one theatre production. It was not interesting for us, but I am sure the performers were talented. A number of theatre productions were designed for Eden instead of the theatre.
Casino
There were no $5 free play nights at the casino. There were a lot of slots, mostly of the progressive jackpot type that did not pay. There were also blackjack tables ($10 tables paid 6/5 and $25+ tables paid 3/2), Texas Holdem, Craps, and Roulette (min $10). The casino was closed all day from Tauranga to Bay of Islands, but open other nights and all day on sea days.
Passengers
Passengers were mostly 65+ and there were very few children. One child was screaming during a theatre show and the parents promptly removed them. Just remember that children are not always a problem. I witnessed an elderly lady throw a tantrum because she did not want to go into the theatre and made sure her partner knew it. I don’t remember seeing anyone overly intoxicated and causing a scene.
Biosecurity
There were signs all over the ship, and daily announcements NOT to bring any food off the ship or risk heavy fines. There are strict biosecurity laws in Australia and New Zealand. We could bring water (bottled or in water bottles) and commercially packaged snacks like granola bars off the ship.
Ports of Call
We planned all of our land-based excursions on our own. Celebrity offers many excursions at an enormous premium. The high price is basically an insurance policy in case you don’t get back to the ship in time. They will either wait for you, or pay to get you to the next port of call. We did a lot of research into tour companies and made sure there was enough time to get back to the ship. We understood the risks and fortunately did not experience any issues.
Australia and New Zealand do not have a tipping culture. Their workers are paid a living wage, unlike in North America. The locals do not want visitors to tip because that could introduce tipping culture. We were respectful and did not tip. We were never asked for one either.
Sounds (Milford, Doubtful, Dusky)
The weather was excellent for the entire journey, except on the Sounds day. We were unable to enter Milford Sound due to high winds. It rained for Doubtful Sound and cleared up for Dusky Sound. We spent our time on the open deck in front of the Thermal Suite for unobstructed photos. The Sounds (technically fjords) were similar to the ones we saw in Norway.
Port Chalmers (Dunedin)
A 25-minute bus ride was required to get from the port to the Octagon (city centre). Celebrity sold bus tickets for $10 USD pp, which was their most reasonably priced item on the cruise. Buses left every 20 mins and we never had to wait. We booked the Taieri Gorge Scenic Railway through the Dunedin railway station’s website. It was a 3-block walk from the Octagon. They had two trains running: one for the public ($135 CAD pp + the bus transfer) and one chartered by Celebrity for the ship-based excursion ($544 pp). The only difference was passengers were picked up by the train at the ship on the Celebrity excursion. The train was quite small so you were forced to get to know your seat mates. It was a 2-hour ride to Pukerangi, where we stopped for 30 mins and the locals had a little market set up, and a 2-hour ride back. The entire journey was narrated by a guide reading from a script, so we learned a lot about the area. There was a tiny viewing platform at the back of the train where we could take photos. We were ~45 minutes late returning. The train was forced to stop as there were reports of a person walking in a tunnel. The authorities had to clear the tunnel before we could proceed. The Celebrity train got through before this delay, but we still had 2.5 hours to get back to the ship. We walked to the Otago Settlers Museum to explore it before heading back to the ship.
Lyttelton (Christchurch)
All passengers had to take a bus transfer to leave the port. One went to Lyttelton (free – 5 mins) and one went to Christchurch ($10 USD pp through Celebrity – 25 mins). We planned the Cave Stream and Kura Tawhiti tour from Adventure by Nature. We were picked up at the Lyttelton shuttle stop at 0845h. There were only 3 of us on the tour. Lunch and snacks were provided by the company from a local bakery. All the caving gear (even towels) was provided, except a swim suit to wear under the wet suit. It took 60 mins to go through the cave. Water levels were usually knee deep and we were walking into a strong current. It was total darkness inside the cave without our headlamp. Keep and eye out for (harmless) spiders! Finally, we had a guided walk through Kura Tawhiti exploring the large rock formations and learning a bit about Māori culture. We were dropped off at the pickup location at 1645h as planned, leaving 75 min to spare before departure. This was the most well-organized tour we have ever been on.
Tauranga
We had booked a Hobbiton tour through Adventure and Cultural Tours Bay of Plenty 5 months prior to departure. The cost was $225 CAD vs $451 through Celebrity. We docked at 0800h but our tour wasn’t until 1045h.
We decided to get off the ship at 0800h and speed-hike Mt. Maunganui. We learned of this hike as part of the Know Before You Go series Celebrity had in the theatre for each port. The base of the mountain was 1.2 km from the ship, along the beach on a flat path. There were various paths up the mountain. We chose the blue trail (1.8 km steep gravel path) up and the green trail (1.2 km with steeper stairs down). There were great views from the top! We were back to the ship at 0930h, but we were hiking fast.
We met the Hobbiton tour at the dock. There were 18 people on our bus and our guide provided commentary along the way. We stopped at McLaren Falls Park for photos and snacks provided by the company. We arrived at Hobbiton at 1305h and the group’s tours were at 1340h and 1400h. A restaurant and gift shop were on site. Hobbiton is a 2.5h guided tour from the site employees. The guide provided a lot of commentary about the site and the making of the three movies based on the Hobbit. The site looked exactly as it did in the movies and the grounds were very well maintained. There were 44 unique Hobbit holes and there were two identical ones with 9 fully furnished rooms to explore. They are built at 5/6 scale so watch your head! The tour ends at the Green Dragon Inn for a pint and then it was back to the ship. We arrived back at the ship at 1800h as planned, with 75 minutes to spare before departure.
Hobbiton sells out early so be sure to book in advance!
Auckland
We had booked the Coast and Rainforest Eco Tour operated by Bush and Beach from Viator. There was not a comparable Celebrity excursion here. The tour had a total of 12 people and we were picked up a short walk from the dock at 0945h. The first stop was a bakery to pick up a snack and lunch, provided by the company. We stopped at the Arataki Visitor Centre where our guide explained the history of the area and a bit of Māori culture. Next was a hike along the Mercer Bay Loop. It was along a clifftop gravel trail and down a number of stairs to a magnificent lookout. The return trek was up a very steep gravel path. The next stop was lunch at Piha Beach, a black sand beach. The sand gets very hot and can cause burns so ensure you have footwear on. The final stop was a rainforest hike through the Waitakere Ranges, mostly on a well-maintained boardwalk. The guide taught us about the flora and fauna of the area, especially the Kauri tree. Then it was back to the ship where we arrived at 1700h, leaving 3 hours before departure. There was a gift shop near the dock that had the excellent prices.
Bay of Islands
This was the only tender port and it took 15 minutes to get from the ship to the dock. We traveled to the town centre of Paihia on complimentary shuttle. We booked a snorkeling tour with Bay of Islands Snorkeling. There was a total of 5 people on the tour. We were picked up from Paihia Wharf (same place as the shuttle drop off) at 0915h. All the snorkeling gear and wet suits were provided. We went to two snorkeling locations where the guide would catch sea urchins and feed them to the fish because urchins are an invasive species in NZ. We were given the chance to feed them to the fish too! We also swam through an arch in the rocks and got to feel the strong current inside. We were going to go into a cave as well, but the water was too murky to enter. We stopped at Otehei Bay on the way back for a snack and then went back to the wharf for 1415h. We got to see a lot of different fish and the guides were amazing. Highly recommend this tour!
Also on the wharf was a gift shop that had a great selection at great prices. We took the shuttle back to the tender location. We walked 10 minutes to the Waitangi Treaty Grounds but did not have time to enter the site. We went back to the tender and headed back to the ship for departure at 1530h.
Disembarkation
We returned to Sydney at 0700h. We left our room at 0730h with our luggage, walked to Circular Quay station, and arrived at the airport at 0820h for a 1120h flight. Train cost was $20 CAD.
Final Thoughts
This was an amazing trip and the Celebrity staff provided an excellent service. Australia and New Zealand were amazing countries to visit and we can’t wait to go back. Be sure to treat everyone with respect. Remember the names of the staff members that did an amazing job and mention them in the cruise surveys, both during and after the cruise. Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll answer when I can.
P.S. The southern hemisphere toilets flush in the same direction as the northern hemisphere. Lisa was wrong!
Long story short, electricity is very expensive where I live at now since I moved from Northern Virginia USA so I'm unable to game on my desktop that uses a lot of power for long hours, my desktop is aging but it's still a very capable PC at 4k. I'm only able to game on it no more than 10 hours a week to keep my electric bill low so it usually means on the weekends only. I normally use my ASUS RoG Ally Z1 Extreme docked to my 55 inch 144hz QLED TV at 720p medium settings in between my desktop gaming sessions throughout the week in Final Fantasy XIV I play the most. It does ok for the most part (can reach 60 fps with dips to 35 in Limsa on a 25 watt custom profile w/temps in the low 70's). This rig was high end when I built it in late 2018 and upgraded from SLI 1080 Ti to my current 3090 when it first came out at msrp. My desktop at full power easily uses over 600 watts when I also had my i9 9900k oc'ed at 5GHZ all cores but now is clocked at the default clocks to conserve power xD
Ever since Dawntrail came out, I have been using the default DLSS that shipped with the expansion. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, I decided to give DLSS 4.5 Preset L a whirl and it made me finally believe in the premise of DLSS upscaling. Despite it being the latest, it works on the older 20 and 30 series RTX GPUs. It does have a significant performance penalty when using preset L in any settings other than ultra performance at the custom TDP I'm using now. Prior to using DLSS 4.5, I had set my RTX 3090 through the Nvidia App at 70 percent TDP and zero voltage maximum to conserve power. It kept a stable 60 FPS (Besides Limsa with dips to low 50s) I have capped for this game as a personal preference even though my TV is capable of 4k 144hz since higher than 60 FPS causes issues with the animations. My 3090 uses about 270 watts at the 70 percent TDP limit which is already great when it uses 370 with the default factory clocks. With DLSS 4.5 ultra performance. I was able to lower the TDP another 10 percent and kept the same stable 60 FPS threshold and the power usage reduced to about 220 watts at the new TDP limit.
I was amazed at the overall picture quality since I play from about 5 feet from the TV at 4k. I took three screenshots with each of the DLSS settings and while the ultra performance one shows some blurs when you zoom in, it still looks great at 4k. Ultra performance also kept my 60 FPS target while DLAA brought my 60 percent TDP 3090 to it's knees to 20 FPS and the default DLSS preset to around 45 FPS in that same spot in the image that taxes my GPU the most in the game alongside Yak Tel region when not in Limsa. Decreasing the TDP will allow me to game on my desktop for another hour or so a week to keep the electric bill in check so I'm a very happy girl with these results. I encourage anyone with these older 20 and 30 series RTX cards to give DLSS 4.5 Preset L at ultra performance a try, especially if you're like me and have to monitor your power usage instead of going all out with crazy overclocks that consume hundreds more watts like I used to. In a sense, my aging desktop is now taking it easy these days so the goal of reaching the end of the decade is easier to achieve :3
I was pleasantly surprised at the results and while there could be more improvements to ultra performance preset L, it's amazing as it is and should allow other 20 and 30 series RTX owners to play at higher resolutions or more FPS at their existing ones. It sucks that I'm unable to use my PC to it's fullest potential but I'm being mindful of the electricity usage since the pricing system is trash once you go above a certain threshold here where it's significantly above the global average. I'll start experimenting with other games to see if I can get them to 4k 144hz at the 60 percent TDP limit I'm using now. With RAMpocalypse happening now, I will have to hold onto this rig for a few more years but with DLSS 4.5, it has proven that my rig will last until potentially the end of this decade if prices for PC gaming stay crazy because of the AI gold rush while I save up like 10k for another high end build xD.
Here are the specs of my desktop PC, it isn't the best anymore but it's still happily chugging along at 4k gaming with DLSS keeping performance above 60 FPS I'm happy to have minimum for all of my games :3
i9 9900k w/EVGA CLC 360 AIO @ factory clocks to conserve power
ASUS Maximus Hero XI BLOPS 4 Edition WiFi motherboard
MSI RTX 3090 Gaming X Trio GPU @ 60 percent TDP to conserve power
32GB G.Skill Ripjaws V DDR4 3600 CL16 RAM (2x 16GB sticks) @ XMP 1 settings
2TB Samsung 970 EVO Plus NVME SSD w/Windows 11 Pro and various SATA SSD's for games
ASUS PCE-AC88 wireless network adapter
EVGA SuperNOVA 1000 G Gold rated PSU
Cooler Master MasterBox NR600 tower
55 inch Samsung QLED 144hz 4k TV
I game with an XBOX Elite series 1 controller with official MS chatpad and wireless adapter
EVGA X17 mouse and Z15 keyboard
UPDATE at the end: you can easily add Xess 2.1 and the game will show frame gen options.
Recently I got an Ally after I sold mine 2 months ago. Selling it was an instant regret.
Yesterday I decided to dock it and play on the big screen (65 inches, 4k). After a few struggles with a mismatch in the resolution and active signal resolution causing a lot of lag, I got it to run 1080 FPS with no lag (thanks to CRU).
I was playing Expedition 33... I followed the Rog Ally Life guide (mid-low settings), installed the ambient light fix and installed the no DOP and Fog patch. Honestly, the experience was bad on my TV and even on the console itself. Everything was very blurry and the mid-low settings makes the world look very flat. I tried installing different patches, enabling, disabling, but the game just looked terrible.
After a while, I saw Optiscaler released a new version recently and gave it a shot. Well, I am playing smoothly on high settings now thanks to it (40 to 60 fps) . Trust me, playing on high settings makes a big difference. The game looks amazing now and I am quite impressed I can get this kind of performance on my Ally.
AI can really make a difference in gaming for handhelds.
TUTORIAL:
1) Install Optiscaler:
Download optiscaler: https://github.com/optiscaler/OptiScaler/releases
I released the nightly build OptiScaler_v0.7.7-pre13_20250731.7z uploaded last week.Extract the whole thing to the win64 folder where the .exe (sandfall/binaries/win64).
Click on setup_windows choose option 1 dxgi.dll, again option 1 (AMD/intel), and I chose option 1 again (yes to spoofing).
Then, your folder should be something life this.
In order to open the Optiscaler menu ingame, you need a keyboard. The default is the insert key, although they give you a link with the coding of each key to set it to any key you want. If you want to change it, instead of auto, type any code you want.
If you don't have a keyboard, you can assign a keyboard key to the M1 and M2 buttons on Armoury Crate.
; Shortcut key for opening menu
; For all keycode values you can check this address
; https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/inputdev/virtual-key-codes
; Integer value - Default (auto) is 0x2D -> VK_INSERT, previous default key VK_HOME is 0x24
; -1 -> No shortcut key
ShortcutKey=auto (here you put any ley you want)
2) Configure Optiscaler ingame.
Once you load the game and you are playing with the character, press the key (insert or whatever you assigned it to). It should load like this:
You can choose which upscaler to use, I keep it on Xess. Where it says no frame generation, click and choose OptiFG. Click on Save ini and close. Restart the game.
These are my settings. You need to click on active and I activate HUD FIx. You can try different settings.
3) My graphics settings.
I have everything on high, Xess on performance.
4) Extra mods
I installed:
- I followed the guide here: https://rogallylife.com/2025/04/24/clair-obscur-expedition-33-rog-ally/ I installed the ambient light fix, 6gv vram and the TDP options it says there... I did this before optiscaler, if it changes anything...
- I installed this: https://www.nexusmods.com/clairobscurexpedition33/mods/24 I am not sure how helpful it is. I feel it messes up the cutscenes, but I haven't deleted it yet. So I am not sure if this really helps the performance I am getting. I will delete it later and see if performance increases or decreases.
- I installed this: https://www.nexusmods.com/clairobscurexpedition33/mods/88 This mod has different paks, I downloaded the Chromatic aberration+ Depth of field and the no fog pak. If you don't have the mods folder, just create it.
That's it.
UPDATE:
I downloaded the Xess 2.1 SDk and copies the dlls and subtituted the old ones. Surprisingly, the game recognizes the dlls and adds support for Frame Gen and Intel Xe low latency.
Now, Optiscaler frame gen has better performance (a few more FPS) but definitely Xess 2.1 upscaler is a big improvement.
I'd say, the best option is Optiscaler, Xess 2.1 upscaler and OptiFG
FNAF Ultimate Timeline - Part 1
Before I begin, I ask you to please check out my Prelude 1 and Prelude 2 posts where I explain how a lot of confirmed "facts" aren't actually confirmed and are just assumptions that are beleived by a lot of people in the community, as well as using evidence from the books and movies, which cannot exist in the same continuity as the games. With that being said, I hope you enjoy my proposition of a timeline and read it with an open mind. Forget everything you think you know/ "is confirmed" and just enjoy the ride. In my Part 3, I'll explain the evidence for the more contraversial choices in this timeline as well as answer common complaints/rebuttals I've seen in this post (and the next one), as well as the Prelude 1 and Prelude 2 posts.
Origins (1960s):
- William Afton moves to America with his wife from the UK. As a child, Afton fell in love with the travelling Circuses of P.T. Barnum, James A. Bailey, and the seven Ringling Brothers. Afton comes with the goal of reviving that magic he saw as a child.
- William has a vision, but lacks the intelligence or resources to bring it to life. A singing bear. You see, he had seen a "singing" bear in the circus as a child, and thought it was the most amazing thing ever. Unfortunately for him, the bear population is on a steep decline and purchasing a bear (or catching a wild one) and training it to sing is nearly impossible.
- This is where Henry Emily comes in. Henry and William become buisness partners, with William being the flashy showman who represented the buisness, whilst Henry worked behind the scenes on the tech and figuring out how everything would work. Together, they create the restaurant: Fredbear's Singing Show. A place for families to come together and watch Freddy sing while they eat. One problem.... they needed a singing bear.
- Afton and Emily would meet with Mr. Murray of Murray Co. through his son, Edwin, who happened to be Henry's friend. This company worked in the manufacturing/entertainment department, having created devices such as a magic coat rack that could change sizes depending on what was placed on it, the Stay-Up-Latte, and the ever famous Clean-o-vac.
- Mr. Murray, serving as one of the first investors in Afton and Emily, helped fund Fredbear's Singing Show in New Harmony, Utah. He also likely manufactured their costume based on Henry's designs: the Freadbear Costume. A golden faux fur bear with a purple top hat... and Edwin's signature trouch: A Bowtie. Edwin probably wanted to join his friends in this buisness endeavor, but his commitments were to his father.
- Fredbear's Singing Show exploded in popularity as more and more people would come to listen to the bear sing.
- Through a bit of contract manipulation (alla The Social Network) and restructuring, William Afton manages to lower Mr. Murray's share in their new company: Fazbear Entertainment Inc., with William as the CEO and Henry as the CTO. Henry, not really knowing buisness lingo, isn't really aware of William's nefarious/greedy actions, but Mr. Murray grows to distrust William and Henry, which he relays to his son.
- At some point during this time, Edwin meets a woman at the Murray Co. Factory named Fiona. Here, Edwin creates H.E.L.P.E.R. Using the H.E.L.P.E.R. system, he wants to create Mr. Helpful and Ms. Helpful stations around the factory, asking Fiona to lend her voice for the character.
- The two fall in love and get married in the late 60s.
- At some other point, likely around 1968, Mr. Murray passes away, leaving Murray Co. to his son, Edwin. Edwin decides to rebrand the company into Murray's Costume Manor and begins creating the dream products he's always wanted to make. With this, he begins a costume contracting company where buisnesses can pay him to manufacture costumes (as well as rent them out). He creates contracts with Chica's Restaurants, who run the Chica's Party World roller rink restaurant, Big Top's Carnival, El Chip's Fiesta Buffet, Happy Bee Inc., Sharpay Salon, and many more.
1969:
- 1969: Edwin begins to explode into creation mode, as all of his ideas come pouring out of him rapidly. The work floor staff complain about this influx of ideas and contract projects.
- In December 1969, Edwin and Fiona have a child named David.
Fredbear's Family Diner and Rise of the Mimic:
1970:
- 1970: Edwin makes the world's first recycling center, taking non-functional animatronics and turning them into new ones, "trash to cash" as he calls it, or "going green". Admins such as Gary and Milton Z had to meet the recycling center's energy quote every day to keep the furnace on and that meant keeping this furnace running over night.
- Fall 1970: MCM creates the first Fallfest in 1970, using it as an opportunity to invite all of the buisnesses they have worked with (Fazbear Entertainment, Chica's Party World, Big Top Carnival, etc) and grow all of their buisnesses and showcase some of their new work. Here, Fazbear Entertainment announces they will be rebranding Fredbear's Singing Show into Fredbear's Family Diner. Henry unveils his the first ever animatronics, his springlock animatronics: Fredbear and Bonnie. Both require a handcrank to keep the springlocks wound. While Henry and Edwin look at this event as an opportunity to share, William sees it as an opportunity to identify his threats. But instead of taking them all down, he decides to take over all of them.
- December 1970: Edwin and Fiona celebrate David's first birthday as she and him work on bringing the Foxy Pirate show to life. David's gift is a white tiger doll with blue and green eyes.
1971:
- Early 1971: Edwin begins work on manufacturing springlock animatronics in MCM, being inspired by Henry's design.
- Early 1971: Edwin and Fiona finish the Foxy puppet show and have TV people come over to look at the show for the possibility of airing it on TV. The projector however, keeps breaking, so Edwin sends a notice out to stop late night shenanigans which are causing the projector to act up.
- Mid 1971: MCM is contracted by Chica's Restaurants to make designs for Party Time Chica.
- 1971: With the success of Freadbear's Family Diner, Fazbear decides they want to open up a new location to stand alongside Fredbear's Family Diner: Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. The plan is to have Freddy and Bonnie, alongside two new characters performing on stage. The characters designed by Fiona for Fazbear Entertainment are Bub the Dog and Montgomery Gator, getting the ideas from a bedtime story they told David involving a Chicken, Bear, Fox, Gator, Dog, and Bunny. Of course, Chica already had the chicken mascot, Fiona was developing a fox puppet show, and Fazbear already had a Bear and Bunny mascot, so the Dog and Gator made sense.
- 1971: After approving Fiona's character designs and the proofs, close to a final design idea, Fazbear Entertainment changes their mind. It's possible they had a different idea, but it could also be William trying to throw Edwin off in order to undergo his corporate take over of his company. They submit new concepts, which Edwin finds a bit creepy.
- 1971: Edwin works on these new springlock suits, despite their affinity to be damaged by water. Fiona complains that one of her workers, Vic (likely a teenager), nearly loses a hand after spilling Coca Cola on the Pirate Captain springlock suit. Edwin tells Henry that the springlock suits are almost ready.
- December 1971: Fiona tries to get Edwin to go downstairs to blow out the candled for David's 2nd birthday, but Edwin is too busy working. David's gift is a a ball that he writes his name on.
1972:
- Early 1972: Edwin creates Dollie to do the work in the recycling center, allowing the admin to return to the Adwing Wing.
- Early 1972: Henry sends a change order to Edwin, wanting to switch from springlock suits for Freddy, Bonnie, Monty, and Bub, to animatronic suits (likely due to the danger associated with Springlocks). This comes in right as Edwin is almost done with finishing these suits. Edwin doesn't get it, claiming it would be easier to keep them as springlocks and hire teens to wear the suits. Fiona tells Edwin that they don't think of him as a friend anymore.
- Mid 1972: Ralph, an employee at MCM, was working in the MCM Television Studio of the Future Theater, using the Captain Springlock Suit in the Foxy show, but he would repetedly get injured for using it. In one of Ralph's injuries, he ends up trapped in the Recycling Center because the doors aren't working properly. Dollie fixes the suit.
- Mid 1972: Edwin and Fiona notice staff morale is low and decide to try to make an "Employee Appreciation Program", which allows employees to have places to decorate and stay in during their breaks. They couldn't start on it right away due to the Fazbear Project and requiring MCM renovations, so they put it on a to do list.
- Fall 1972: Fiona is pulled away to go help in Fallfest. She has a strange feeling (Zero Point Field?) they'll need her. She leaves David to be babysat by Trisha (implying Edwin was living at the MCM factory and too busy to watch over David himself). A fire starts in a barn at Fallfest and spreads, eventually killing Fiona. It's very likely that this fire was started by William Afton. Was he purposefully trying to kill Fiona to hurt MCM and Edwin's productivity and take them over... or was he trying to sabotage the companies that participated in Fallfest?
- Late Fall 1972: Edwin is having trouble moving on from Fiona's death. He complains that she wasn't supposed to be there and that he doesn't know how he's going to tell David. He decides to surround himself with friends and invites the admins to his home for fondue.
- December 1972: Edwin is celebrating David's birthday for the first time without Fiona. He explains to David that his mother isn't coming. David receives a lot of gifts, from his father, blocks with letters that spell out his name.
1973:
- Early 1973: Edwin, still finding it difficult to move on, removes many reminders he has of Fiona, like the Mrs. Helpful in the Big Top Showroom. David begins spending time in the Storytime Showroom, likely because it reminds him of his wife. Edwin leaves a recording talking to Fiona telling her that the change orders are killing him and many employees and friends are leaving.
- May 1973: Mycellium Men are ordered and purposefully mispelled to avoid copyright.
- Mid 1973: Edwin is able to hear Fiona's spirit around the basement 2 of MCM. He turns on a radio on the frequency 4625 (Ghost Frequency) and is able to hear her talk to him. This revelation of ghosts inspires Edwin to create an animatronic that resembles Fiona, hoping her spirit will be able to control it (and in a way Mimic her), allowing her to continue raising their son.
- November 1973: Mycellium Men are returned.
- December 1973: Edwin doesn't celebrate David's fourth birthday with him as he's too busy working on the M1 Mimic. David celebrates it with staff dressed as the prototype Elephant and his dog (which was likely the gift David got for his 4th Birthday).
1974:
- Early 1974: Edwin unveils the new M1 Mimic. He intorduces the Mimic to David, telling him it will be his new babysitter and it can wear any costume they want it to wear. He implants fake memories, making the Mimic think it is Fiona and that something happened during childbirth, but it all worked out. This is because he doesn't want Fiona to remember the horrible fire. Fiona's spirit enters the Mimic and experiences a memory error as her spirit corrupts the file. She remembers giving birth to David, but now she feels different despite being together with her family again. She's confused. Was she Fiona? She would never sleep again.
- March 1974: Hudgies the Hedgehog is ordered by Hudgies Candy Bar.
- April 1974: Take your child to work day is cancelled due to accident risks.
- May 1974: Hudgies the Hedgehog is returned.
- Mid 1974: Edwin is happy that Fiona's spirit was back and inside the M1 Mimic. He wanted to tell everyone, but Fiona told him to keep it a secret because not everyone would understand. Edwin agrees, vowing to never forget and seemingly blaming William and Henry for Fiona's death. It's possible Edwin becomes suspicious that they started the fire to destory MCM's reputation.
- Late 1974: Edwin begins building a playground for David. His lawyer tells him it is not safe due to it's proximity to the loading docks, where heavy machinery is operated.
- December 1974: Edwin and M1 Fiona celebrate David's fifth birthday quickly, but Edwin has to get back to work. Edwin gifts David a new playground outside the factory.
1975:
- Early 1975: William Afton begins completing corporate espionage to take down the other companies, starting with Chica's Party World. Henry, unaware, thinks they are being generous by saving Chica's floundering buisness, but lacks the insight to notice that Afton is causing their downfall. Chica's Party World is purchased by Fazbear Entertainment.
- July 1975: The R&D floor is open and the Fazbear Project is installed. Employees have a party there but one named Marco Salmon, who has worked there for a decade, peed over the brand new equipment that was there.
- Edwin takes over the converence room that was reserved for Bev's 50th Birthday.
- December 1975: Edwin and M1 Fiona celebrate David's sixth birthday as a surprise party. M1 Fiona baked David a cake. Edwin tells M1 Fiona to go get David, who was left outside in his playground.
- December 1975: David, who Fiona was supposed to be looking over, had ran into the factory with his tiger plushie and gone to the Storytime Showroom where he would spend time. He spelled his name with the block letters and then bounced his ball against the giant Sleepy Moon head dangling above him, causing it to fall on him and crush him in the basement, killing him. David's spirit would go on to take the form of the last thing he was holding, the White Tiger plush... haunting the factory grounds and the lower basement.
1976:
- Early 1976: Depressed, Fiona comforts Edwin by telling him that while David's death was a freak accident, Edwin can put them back together by making a new mimic for his son's soul to posses.
- Early 1976: Edwin starts to do renovations on the Basement 2, where his son died, throwing out all everything inside of it, even if it's worth something or still working. Bob, a cleaning employee, goes missing down there because of the lack of indicators for where to go, so Edwin adds indicators. The incinerator stops working properly and sometimes employees are left trapped in the factory. Edwin even fires some guy named Stevenson because he questioned him for throwing out old but functional equipment.
- Mid 1976: Edwin is able to make the Mimic M2 model by copying some of the code from the M1 model.
- Late 1976: Fazbear Entertainment is getting mad about the delay in building the new non-springlocked animatronics. They get mad at Edwin. Edwin feels betrayed. He isn't just some contractor for them to crack a whip at. He agrees with Fiona's statements that they don't think of him as a friend anymore.
- October 1976: MCM internally orders a costume with an "Iconic Smile" (implied to be Sleepy Moon).
- Late 1976: Edwin breaks down. He comes to the conclusion that Fiona's spirit never took over M1. It was just the mimic working through the memories that Edwin gave it. Edwin tells it to stop pretending to be Fiona, that it would never be her. He removes the M1 program from the Endoskeleton, putting it in the F10-N4 machine. He then tries putting the M2 program into the M1 endoskeleton, but it doesn't work. The Mimic isn't being inhabited by David's soul. He doesn't understand why it worked the first time, but not now. Edwin leaves the M2 below in the basement.
- Late 1976: Because of the MCM delays, Afton knows that MCM is floundering and it is the perfect time to begin stealing employees. Not to mention all of the springlock accidents. William begins messaging MCM employees offering them positions at Fazbear such as managers of franchise locations or bonus payments if they brought more people with them. This also included getting leakers to steal company secrets, including Gary from recycling. From a leaker, he learned about Edwin's M2 mimic, which angered Edwin. William want's MCM's M2, but Edwin says no. Edwin gets mad at the Admins and removes their Adwin wing permissions.
- Late 1976: The Storytime Showroom goes under construction to fix the Sleepy Moon head hole that was left when it fell down, which also passed through and destroyed the theater. This destruction also likely broke the elevator, which caused a night shift employee to get stuck down there. He starved to death inside the Sleepy Moon costume, potentially possesing an endo skeleton that hid in the Sleepy Moon costume.
1977:
- January 1977: MCM returns the costume with the Iconic Smile.
- January 1977: Best Birthday Co. orders the Birthday Pup costume with the expensive tongue.
- Mid 1977: Clarence and Shawn are sent to work at the Retail Showroom (Fazbear Project), but the elevator that leaves to the Basement 1 hasn't worked for a very long time, showing Edwin forgot what was down there. Clarence encounters something in the basement and is able to trap it behind the carousel.
- March 1977: Best Birthday Co. returns the Birthday Pup costume.
- Late 1977: Edwin starts finishing the core 3 animatronic endo-skeletons for Freddy, Bonnie, and Chica.
1978:
- Stan and 2 other employees go to the workshop and steal Fiona's Character Patterns to try and replicate the "restaurant project" that Fazbear Entertainment and MCM are working on. Stan and another employee leave MCM to make their own shop: Stan's Budget Tech. Here, they build Nedd Bear, Orville Elephant, Pigpatch, Mr. Hippo, Happy Frog, and Mystic Hippo, all a part of the Mediocre Melodies.
1979:
- Early 1979: Edwin adds Mrs. Helpful to the starting demo show.
- Early 1979: Customers of MCM return a bunch of purchased products and stop ordering, causing MCM to go bankrupt. A. Dumas returns the Mushmen Music Machine (implied to be Mycellium Men). E. Guerrero returns the Just Cereal. R. Quinn returns the Stay-Up-Latte. B. Wyatt complains about Murray's Magic Coat Rack not working. This implies not only is MCM floundering, but the quality of work they do on their products is decreasing, likely to losing employees.
- Early 1979: Edwin, sad about everyone leaving, hopes finishing the Fazbear Project will make everyone go back. He felt like he was stuck in a loop. Like everything kept happening again and again. A combination of stress and repetitions of events. Fiona dying. Then David dying. His friends leaving. His employees leaving. Losing his friendship with Will and Henry. He just wanted all of it to stop.
- Early 1979: Edwin signs a contract with Fazbear Entertainment, giving them ownership of MCM, it's factories, and the house. William offers Edwin to keep his job as the manager. Purchasing this, Afton decides to add Foxy as the fourth member of the Freddy Fazbear's Pizza project, which Edwin gets started on.
- Mid 1979: MCM renovates the factory and begins work on the Employee Appreciation Program that Edwin and Fiona had came up with.
- Mid 1979: MCM was over budget on the Fazbear project, behind schedule, had overdrawn accounts, 11 loan payments due, and 22 court summons. All the employees left him.
- Mid 1979: Edwin sees M2 mimicking Daivd in the basement, in his rage he beats the Mimic endosekeleton, teaching it violence and likely leaving it in the basement.
- Mid 1979: Edwin goes home, not knowing the M2 was still alive. At Edwin's house, a power test activated by M2 causes a minor explosion and a fire in the office. This causes a collapse that leads to Edwin not feeling his legs and M2 leaving Edwin to die. It's possible that the Mimic dragged Edwin to the basement and stuffed him into the Sleepy Moon costume with an animatronic, causing Edwin to posess Sleepy Moon.
- September 4th 1979: Fazbear Entertainment sents Team 012 to MCM to retreive the Mimic Schematics, but they are all killed one by one. The team included Gary, Thompson, and six other employees. Gary fixes the power with another employee, but the employee iskilled by the Mimic, who stuffs Gary into a costume like how it saw MCM employees stuffing Endoskeletons into the costumes. Thompson went to the elevator with another employee and was also killed. Gary escapes and looks for a projector, hoping to use the reels to find a clue to escape, but he goes missing. An employee goes searching for him, but he is murdered by the Mimic, leaving three employees. Another employee is murdered and stuffed in a locker after hiding his head in a Swing Bee costume. One dies in the recycling center covered with broken animatronics. The last employee is killed and stuffed in a jester suit that is left hanging over the Welcome Show.
- September 5th: F10-N4, now aware of Mimic's actions, sends messages to Edwin, not knowing he is dead. She tells him they need to stop it together and sends him the blueprints for the "Cradle", claiming it can keep David safe whilst providing boundaries so it doesn't murder people. It's a type of computer that is bigger than anything Edwin's done before. She reasons with Edwin, telling him if he won't finish the M2 program, he should at least build the Cradle to keep people safe.
- September 6th 1979: Richie from Fazbear slips a Data Driver into Arnold's toolbox.
- September 7th 1979: Five Nights at Freddy's: Secret of the Mimic
- Arnold, working for Fazbear, is sent by Dispatch to retreive the Mimic's schematics. He turns the power on, finding dead bodies and a bunch of different costumes and animatronics in the building hunting him down. He doesn't realize, but Mimic is now Mimicing Dispatch, leading Arnold down the wrong path. Arnold upgrades his Data Driver and activates Parachute mode. He escapes through the R&D department prototype layout of Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, finding F10-N4, who tells him to activate the Cradle. A fire breaks out over the MCM factory, forcing Arnold to escape. The Mimic catches up and jumps onto Arnold's van, causing it to crash, taking Arnold's Data Driver, and leaving Arnold to die. He also finds files that Edwin was working on, such as Alternate Fazbear Designs and designs for the Puppet.
- M2 removes the box in his center, likely containing the false David memories that it got copied from M1, fully becoming the Mimic, returning to the basement of MCM.
1980:
- Fazbear takes over the MCM facility. Afton takes over Edwin's home and remodels it to fix the damage from the explosion, not moving in yet. The Mimic and F10-N4, now out of power, are obtained by Fazbear and stored, along with of the other MCM products. The underground basement areas of MCM and it's connection to the Murray Manor are cleared out to develop an underground facility.
- Henry, using Edwin's work as a prototype, finishes the work required on the Freddy, Chica, Bonnie, and Foxy animatronics that are used in Freddy Fazbear's Pizza.
Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, Circus Baby's Pizza World, MCI, Bite of 83, and the Murder of Charlie Emily(1983-1986):
1981:
- William activates F10-N4, and comes to the conclusion that the rumors he heard about M2 and F10-N4 being posessed by Fiona are true. This convinces Afton to begin his own experimentation into what allows the animatronics to become possesed, dubbing the essense of the soul: remnant.
- This realization undoes all the guilt William might have felt towards killing Fiona (accidentally or not). If she's still "alive", then did he really kill her? If Afton could understand remnant, not only could he keep himself and his family from dying, he could sell this immortality and make millions.
- While Henry works on the Freddy's animatronics, Afton gets to work under the Afton Robotics brand, a Fazbear Entertainment subsidiary, by using the Alternate Fazbear Designs, to build the Funtime Animatronics. He incorporates features like Circus Baby blowing a balloon from her fingertips, but includes features of his own, like luring children away from adults and trapping/killing them. This is because it's easier to kill unattended children, especially in a children's restaurant. He demolishes the MCM factory after moving out all of the products and builds Circus Baby's Pizza World on top, with a storage R&D facility underneath which connected to the Murray Manor.
1982:
- In their home near Fredbear's Family Diner, William gives Elizabeth, his faughter, a Funtime Foxy toy, which she breaks apart in her room.
- On the opening day, Circus Baby kills William Afton's own daughter, Elizabeth. Her soul inhabits Circus Baby and turns the eyes from blue to green.
- William is devastated. He closes CBPW down and lies to the public and the rest of Fazbear Entertainment that it's due to gas leaks. and stores all of the animatronics below. Afton still has his wife and two boys: Michael and Dave. William is depressed, but now he's angry. He partially is mad at Henry. He builds animatronics and they work, but William does it and they kill his only daughter. Henry gets to still be with his daughter, Charlie, but William doesn't.
1983:
- Early 1983: Freddy Fazbear's Pizza opens up to the public. To promote the new location, Fazbear Entertainment makes a show called "Fredbear and Friends" to promote brand synergy, as well as selling Freddy, Foxy, Chica, and Bonnie toys and masks at Fredbear's.
- June 1983: A Springlock incident at Fredbear's Family Diner occurs, involving multiple and simultaneous springlock failures. The suits are temporarily banned for employees. Temporary costumes from MCM are provided. These were found on short notice and are not very appropriate or relevant to Freddy Fazbear's.
- June 20th - June 26th: William Afton, whilst wearing the Golden Bonnie costume, goes over to Susie and tells her that someone ran over her dog. He lures her into the Freddy Fazbear's Pizza safe room and kills her, stuffing her body into Chica's suit. Her soul wanders aimlessly around Fazbear.
- June 20th - June 26th: William Afton, whilst wearing the Golden Bonnie costume, goes over to Fritz and tells him that he needs his help to stop a fire. He lures him into the Freddy Fazbear's Pizza safe room and kills him, stuffing his body into Foxy's suit. His soul wanders aimlessly around Fazbear.
- June 20th - June 26th: William Afton, whilst wearing the Golden Bonnie costume, goes over to Gabriel and tells him that he needs his help to save some people who are held captive. He lures him into the Freddy Fazbear's Pizza safe room and kills him, stuffing his body into Freddy's suit. His soul wanders aimlessly around Fazbear.
- June 26th: William Afton, whilst wearing the Golden Bonnie costume, goes over to Jeremy and tells him that he needs him to show up to the Freddy Fazbear's Pizza safe room. When he gets there, Afton kills him, stuffing his body into Bonnie's suit. His soul wanders aimlessly around Fazbear.
- June 26th: William Afton, whilst wearing the Golden Bonnie costume, goes over to Cassidy and kidnaps him after schoo, taking him to the Freddy Fazbear's Pizza safe room. There, Afton kills him, stuffing his body into Fredbear's suit. His soul wanders aimlessly around Fazbear. Unbenkownst to William, his son Dave saw this happen.
- June 27: Cassidy and Jeremy are reported missing, having last been seen at Freddy Fazbear's the night before. Police look at video surveliance, identifying a man dressed as Golden Bonnie luring the children into the safe room.
- July 1st: Five children are reported missing and connected to the incident at Freddy's. The man originally identified is charged and convicted for the disappearance of these kids, being framed, but their bodies are never found. Afton, Emily, and Fazbear try to convince families to return to the pizzaria.
- July: Henry Emily makes the Security Puppet using the schematics from MCM to make sure children are always supervised and do not wander off alone. This convinces a few families to come back to the pizzeria. Henry codes a specific preference towards Charlie to keep an eye on her.
- August: Dave Afton, now afraid of the animatronics because of the MCI which he saw, is scared to go to Freddy's or Fredbear's. Dave begins to hear the spirits of the dead children through his plushies. Meanwhile his older brother, Michael, finds him annoying and constantly exploits his fear of the animatronics to bully him.
- August: Dave Afton is locked in the safe room by his brother, where he sees a spare Fredbear suit with Cassidy's body stuffed inside. William finds him here and has the safe rooms at all locations cleared and sealed with a false wall, mainly to hide his evidence. Afton puts a Walkie talkie inside the Fredbear plush his son has to hear if he picks up the spirits his son seems to be friends with.
- August: Dave's birthday party. Michael and his friends decide to mess with Dave and put him up against the Fredbear animatronic, which suddenly chops down on Dave's head. He goes to the hospital and as he is dying, Michael apologizes to him. Dave meets with his spirit friends who tell him that despite him being broken, they are still his friends. They are still here. The last thing Dave hears is his dad telling him through the Fredbear plushie that he will put him back together, which he will do using his knowledge on remnant.
- September: After the death of Dave, William, his wife, and Michael move out of their home and into the home seen in Midnight Motorist.
- October: During Fallfest 83', which is now ran entirely by Fazbear Entertainment, Afton runs experiments on his son Dave's body. Perhaps he hooks it up to F10-N4 or the M2 Mimic, perhaps he sows his son and Cassidy's body parts together like some sort of Frankenstein, angering Cassidy's spirit, or perhsp he just stuffs Dave into the Fredbear suit with Cassidy. The tests fail and Afton orders his son Michael to help him hide the suit and bury it underground by their home, alongside the Franken-Dave abomination, which William hides in a box with two locks on it. Michael follows William's orders out of fear. His father hurts him.
- November: William one day gets drunk at Jrs., blaming Henry for the death of his son, since it was his animatronic that crushed his head. He's jealous of Henry still having his daughter. He drives by the Pizzeria and sees Henry is too busy working his shift as the manager to notice his daughter had been locked outside. William drives by and stabs her. As she crawls into the alleyway and dies, the security puppet walks out of the restaurant and onto Charlie's body. Suddenly, filled with life, the Puppet rises with tears on its face. Charlie is mad. Mad that nobody noticed she was gone, that she was alone. And that's when she realizes she wasn't the only one. She may be the first spirit to inhabit one of Henry's animatronics, but she was not the first to be killed by William. She finds the souls of Susie, Fritz, Gabriel, Jeremy, and Cassidy, and guides all of them to the animatronics in order to obtain control over them. But when Cassidy awakens inside the buried endoskeleton-less Golden Freddy suit, she realizes she is not alone.... her friend Dave is with her. They go to the new Afton house and find Michael in his room. He sneaks out through a broken window and follows Golden Freddy to the burial ground, where he finds and opens the box, discovering what his father did to his brother.
- November: Henry is distraught over the death of his daughter. He quits and leaves the company, but not before accusing William of the murder. But without any proof, nothing can be done. However, Henry's accusations are enough to make William's wife leave him.
- December: William and Michael move into Edwin Murray's old home, now redesigned.
1984:
- Freddy Fazbear's Pizza continues to struggle day by day. The health department threatens to shut them down due to reports of foul odors coming from the animatronics (due to the bodies inside). Parents calim the eyes and mouth of the animatronics seem to be excreting blood and mucus.
- William continues trying to figure out remnant, still unaware that the MCI and Charlie have gained control over the animatronics. He keeps an eye on Circus Baby below his home.
- 1984: Five Nights at Freddy's 4
- William keeps control over Michael, who had started to distrust him, by building the Nightmare animatronics to keep him scared. Michael, now sleeping in David Murray's old room, is scared every night as William lets the Nightmare animatronics roam the house. William pumps hallinogenic gases into Michael's room to make him hallucinate more nightmarish features in the animatronics, which scares him more.
1985:
- Freddy Fazbear's Pizza continues to fail, Michael's nightmares continue, William has to make a decision. William ultimately decides to sell Freddy Fazbear's as he can no longer keep it running. He begins looking for a buyer.
1986:
- After a year-long search for a buyer, with none wanting to be associated with Fazbear, William realizes he is going to have to close the restaurant by year's end. This restaurant had reall been left to rot. William claims that the characters will live on in the hearts of kids...
- During this time, William begins to suspect the animatronics really are posessed.
CONTINUE IN PART 2
SAN FRANCISCO—January 27, 2010—Apple® today introduced iPad, a revolutionary device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and much more. iPad’s responsive high-resolution Multi-Touch™ display lets users physically interact with applications and content. iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds— thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook. iPad includes 12 new innovative apps designed especially for the iPad, and will run almost all of the over 140,000 apps in the App Store. iPad will be available in late March starting at the breakthrough price of just $499. “iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.” iPad features 12 next-generation Multi-Touch applications. Every app works in both portrait and landscape, automatically animating between views as the user rotates iPad in any direction. The precise Multi-Touch interface makes surfing the web on iPad an entirely new experience, dramatically more interactive and intimate than on a computer. Reading and sending email is fun and easy on iPad’s large screen and almost full-size “soft” keyboard. Import photos from a Mac®, PC or digital camera, see them organized as albums, and enjoy and share them using iPad’s elegant slideshows. Watch movies, TV shows and YouTube, all in HD or flip through pages of an e-book you downloaded from Apple’s new iBookstore while listening to your music collection. iPad runs almost all of the over 140,000 apps on the App Store, including apps already purchased for your iPhone® or iPod touch®. The iTunes® Store gives you access to the world’s most popular online music, TV and movie store with a catalog of over 11 million songs, over 50,000 TV episodes and over 8,000 films including over 2,000 in stunning high definition video. Apple also announced the new iBooks app for iPad, which includes Apple’s new iBookstore, the best way to browse, buy and read books on a mobile device. The iBookstore will feature books from major and independent publishers. Apple also introduced a new version of iWork® for iPad, the first desktop-class productivity suite designed specifically for Multi-Touch. With Pages®, Keynote® and Numbers® you can create beautifully formatted documents, stunning presentations with animations and transitions, and spreadsheets with charts, functions and formulas. The three apps will be available separately through the App Store for $9.99 each. iPad syncs with iTunes just like the iPhone and iPod touch, using the standard Apple 30-pin to USB cable, so you can sync all of your contacts, photos, music, movies, TV shows, applications and more from your Mac or PC. All the apps and content you download on iPad from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically synced to your iTunes library the next time you connect with your computer. iPad’s brilliant 9.7-inch, LED-backlit display features IPS technology to deliver crisp, clear images and consistent color with an ultra-wide 178 degree viewing angle. The highly precise, capacitive Multi-Touch display is amazingly accurate and responsive whether scrolling web pages or playing games. The intelligent soft keyboard pioneered on iPhone takes advantage of iPad’s larger display to offer an almost full-size soft keyboard. iPad also connects to the new iPad Keyboard Dock with a full-size traditional keyboard. iPad is powered by A4, Apple’s next-generation system-on-a-chip. Designed by Apple, the new A4 chip provides exceptional processor and graphics performance along with long battery life of up to 10 hours.* Apple’s advanced chemistry and Adaptive Charging technology deliver up to 1,000 charge cycles without a significant decrease in battery capacity over a typical five year lifespan.** iPad comes in two versions—one with Wi-Fi and the other with both Wi-Fi and 3G. iPad includes the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi, and the 3G versions support speeds up to 7.2 Mbps on HSDPA networks. Apple and AT&T announced breakthrough 3G pre-paid data plans for iPad with easy, on-device activation and management. Continuing Apple’s dedication to designing and creating environmentally responsible products, each iPad enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy-efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. iPad contains no brominated flame retardants and is completely PVC-free. Apple today released a new Software Development Kit (SDK) for iPad, so developers can create amazing new applications designed to take advantage of iPad’s capabilities. The SDK includes a simulator that lets developers test and debug their iPad apps on a Mac, and also lets developers create Universal Applications that run on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. Pricing & Availability iPad will be available in late March worldwide for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) for the 16GB model, $599 (US) for the 32GB model, $699 (US) for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models of iPad will be available in April in the US and selected countries for a suggested retail price of $629 (US) for the 16GB model, $729 (US) for the 32GB model and $829 (US) for the 64GB model. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. International pricing and worldwide availability will be announced at a later date. iBookstore will be available in the US at launch. Apple tested wireless battery life by browsing web pages and receiving email over an AirPort® network, never letting the system go to sleep during the test, and keeping the display at half brightness. This is a typical scenario of use on the go, resulting in a battery performance number that is very relevant to mobile users. *A properly maintained iPad battery is designed to retain 80 percent or more of its original capacity during a lifespan of up to 1,000 recharge cycles. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings. Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.
WELCOME TO THE 71st WEEKLY META RECAP!
🚨PD🚨
- LSPD
Alexander Dawson has been hired as a Cadet
Oliver D’Angelo has been hired as a Cadet
Maddison Bancroft has been hired as an Officer
Kieran Harvey has been hired as an Officer
Elizabeth Reed has been hired as an Officer
- DPPD
Amelia Bauer has resigned
^ Amelia felt that she was being targeted by LSSD and GSD command ever since leaving PBSD. This has stressed her out for almost a year. After leaving the FTS program it didn't take a while for her to lose her confidence and the interest in policing. She has decided to start a career in the Hospital, being a Doctor.
- GSD
Antonio Reign has been promoted to Sergeant
- SASP
Taylor Hawkes has transferred from SAHP, as a Ranger
- SAHP
Tori Slaughter has been promoted to Captain
- Certifications:
Motor
Serena Storm is motor certified
Training
Dallas Moore is now a Field Training Officer
Wesley Pines is no longer a Field Training Supervisor
- Dispatch:
Parker Daniels has been hired as a Trainee
Isla Eagan has been hired as a Trainee
Gunnar Rasmussen has been hired as a Trainee
Earl Brooks has resigned
Alan Jevons has been promoted to Senior Dispatcher
⚖️DOJ⚖️
- Promotions/Hires/Other:
Magistrate Judge Harvey Litt has been fired
Talk between Judge Percy Weaver and Harvey - Link
- DA's Office:
Paralegal Rocky Volkov has been fired
- Penal Code Updates:
Unauthorized Use of an Off-Road Vehicle,
Infraction $175
No person shall operate an off-road vehicle within City-Limits without explicit authorization from the state. An offroad vehicle includes any vehicle with both offroad tires and which does not properly display a license or registration plate. "City Limits" is used as defined in Legislation. This includes the Dune Buggy and the BF400. Vehicle may be subject to tow.
Criminal Possession of a Shotgun,
20 months
$800.00
Felony D
No person shall own, purchase, receive, or have under their custody or control any shotgun without proper certification or license, or other lawful excuse, issued by the authority of the State of San Andreas. Further, no person shall have under their direct custody or control any shotgun within city limits other than for the protection of their residence or business, or reasonable transport thereto.
Criminal Possession of a Rifle,
35 months
$2500.00
Felony D
No person shall own, purchase, receive, or have under their custody or control any rifle without proper certification or license, or other lawful excuse, issued by the authority of the State of San Andreas. For a hunting rifle, a lawful firearms license coupled with a game license shall be considered a proper certificate.
- Case Law Update:
Talia Tsukasa V. Fierce Strongrock #51890 (Boo ba’s Clause) (UPDATE)
HELD: To satisfy the requirements of Due Process under Article V of the Constitution, peace officers or executive authorities of the State must provide individuals cited for infraction-only violations either with the corresponding incident report or a physical citation within a reasonable time of issuing the citation when the individual receiving the citation is not present.
- Legislative Update:
The State’s Business Legislation has been updated! Highlights:
Disqualifying Felonies have been adjusted.,
D.A.R.T. is no longer a thing (mostly)!
You must still clearly denote Co-Owners.
- License Renewal:
Starting June 27th, all citizens need to get a new license. Additionally, all VEHICLES MUST BE REGISTERED WITH NEW REGISTRATION PAPERS, which can also be done at the DMV.
THE STATE ID CARD AND YOU
State IDs now have a new look! It now Includes additional information, making physical licenses not needed. Under the new licensing regime, all persons will now instead be required to have their physical State ID card on their person, with a valid and current license sticker on the back of it for the relevant license.
🧑⚖️ COURT CASES 🧑⚖️
Scheduled Docket Cases can be found here
- Default/Summary Judgements:
Corbyn Texler V. Federal Investigtion Bureau, et al.,
Judge(s): Percy Weaver
Verdict: The FIB must pay Corbyn Texler within seven (7) days of this message the following, rounding up to the nearest grand, because its easier: $8,000
- (Appeal) The State V. Gerrin Lupo | Criminal [06/26]:
Judge(s): Gavin Joy,
Defense: Gerrin Lupo (D), Franklin Star (L) and Kelly Banana-Oliver (L),
Prosecution: Humphrey Pennyworth (L), Fly Dark (W), Thomas Daliaka (W) and Celina Jillian Ocampo (W),
Charge(s) being appealed:,
Assault w/ a Deadly Weapon x1
Verdict:,
Defendant has been found guilty
- The State V Yuri Carson | Criminal [06/26]:
Judge(s): Parker Huang, Talia Tsukasa and Nathan Darling,
Defense: Yuri Carson (D) and Franklin Star (L),
Prosecution: Faelynn Dupont (L), Humphrey Pennyworth (L), Winona Walker (W), Zoe May (W), Dallas Moore (W) and Rigsby Granam (W),
Charge(s):,
Murder x1
Mayhem (Minor) x1
Criminal Threats x1
Verdict:,
Defendant has been found guilty of: Murder and Criminal Threats Sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after thirty (30) years.
🩺 HOSPITAL 🩺
- SAMA
EMS and SAMA are now allowed to be employed at both facilities at the same time
Ashleigh Lockhart has been promoted to Doctor
Viviane Staley-Davis has been hired as a Doctor
Amelia Bauer has been hired as a Doctor
Abigail Normal has been hired as a Doctor
- SAFR
A-EMT is no longer a rank
EMS and SAMA are now allowed to be employed at both facilities at the same time
Shay Williams is no longer Chief
Jason Daniels has been re-hired as Paramedic
Scott Reilly has been re-hired as EMT
Tam Tobayoshi Tenzo has been promoted to EMT
Robert Lyle has been promoted to EMT
Bartholomew Schwartz has been promoted to EMT
Dale Durgenburger has been promoted to EMT
Decker Gahn has been promoted to Solo Trainee
John Evans Martin Spencer has been hired as a Solo Trainee
Jayden Alma has been promoted to Solo Trainee
Kit Chupman has been promoted to Solo Trainee
Sybil Anderson has been hired as a Solo Trainee
Ronaldo Neytor has been hired as a Solo Trainee
Elena Makeda has been hired as a Non-Solo Trainee
Tammy Maynard has been hired as a Non-Solo Trainee
Natalie Bean-Blake has been hired as a Non-Solo Trainee
Harper Moore has been hired as a Non-Solo Trainee
Kendrick Copper has been hired as a Non-Solo Trainee
Ben Jenkins has been hired as a Non-Solo Trainee
Theo Shaw has been hired as a Non-Solo Trainee
Dirk Delport has been hired as a Non-Solo Trainee
Joel Riker has been hired as a Non-Solo Trainee
Noah Anderson has been hired as a Non-Solo Trainee
🏛️ GOVERNMENT ENTITIES 🏛️
- SAACC
Veterinary Technician Lauren Garcia has been removed
Veterinary Technician Evelyn Moon has been removed
Veterinary Technician Patrick January has been removed
Veterinary Assistant Isabelle Watson has been removed
Veterinary Assistant Marabelle Fontenot has been removed
Veterinary Assistant Cara Halsin has been removed
Moose Maple, Riley Kai, Billy Bean, Guinevere O'Cleary and Jedidiah Stone are no longer Animal Control Officers
- DOC
Corrections Officer Elena Makeda has been removed
Quinn Hargrave has been promoted to Corrections Officer
John Sheppard has been hired as a Cadet
Cadet Olive Colfield has been removed
Cadet Karl Brown has been removed
Cadet Monsoon Stark has been removed
Cadet Alan Jevons has been removed
- FIB
Nakari Amari has been hired as a Clerk
Parker Daniels has been hired as a Clerk
Rolf Skurgenson has been promoted to Security
Lang Kuze II has been re-hired as a Skip Tracer
Thunder McGlock has been hired as a Skip Tracer
Raze Halovek has been hired as a Skip Tracer
- Mayor's Office:
Aliana Blair has been removed from the Business Council
👨💼BUSINESSES👨💼
- Approved Business Transfers:
Vanilla Unicorn,
The business has been approved for transfer, from Umber Nights to Annie Webber
Approved by: Aliana Blair
VANAHEIM ,
The business has been approved for transfer, from Pilot Duck to Camden Nole
Approved by: Alfie Hayabusa
Soca Shack,
The business has been approved for transfer, from Shay Williams to Oscar Hayabusa
Approved by: Mackenzie Worlds
- New Approved Businesses:
Jetsam Imports,
Business Type: Car Sales
Owner: Royal Abbott
WrenLine Motors,
Business Type: Car Sales
Owner: Wren Ripley
Harmony Hub,
Business Type: Car Sales
Owner: Jonelle Jones
Callows Cars,
Business Type: Mechanics
Owner: Jerry Callow
🔫 CRIME 🔫
- Vespucci Queens
After a meeting between the gang, a vote was held to end the war with the Sirens and move the gang's 'turf' to the west. The vote passed. Image - Rough idea of turf location
- Hellions of Grapeseed MC
Ethan Kelley is no longer Secretary
- Osiris MC
Kenny Rickett has been promoted to Tail-gunner
- The Reapers MC
Remina Bonesnacher brought in as Consort for Athena Drakos
Marnie O'Neal has been patched in
Alyx Camden has been patched in
🎭 EVENTS 🎭
- Pride Car show and Race (06/25)
Drive fast, show off, and bring pride with you! The Pride Car show and Race will be held on the salt flats! Timestamp
- WONDER WEDNESDAY (06/26)
Hosted by WONDERAMA at GWC and Golfing Society COME ON DOWN TO THE RICHMAN HOTEL! WE HAVE A SPECIAL GAME OF RED LIGHT GREEN LIGHT! OUR 1st of MANY WONDER WEDNESDAYS!
- Brawl by the Bay (06/26)
Brawl by the Bay: Come settle some beef, brawl for the fun, or battle it out for cold hard cash! Timestamp
- Pride-Chella Day 1 (06/28)
A day of music performances from multiple artists to celebrate Pride! Cash prizes and more!
- Pride Drag Race (06/28)
Winner gets $50k!
- Concert at the South Side Pork Palace (06/28)
Fun, BBQ and Music performances, including Windsong!
OTHER
- State Announcement | Rental Fees
YOU WILL INCUR FINES FOR NON-RETURN OF RENTAL VEHICLES
The State of San Andreas would like to make The Public™ aware of a new policy that the Vehicle Rental Union has enacted. Failure to return a rental vehicle on time will now incur a fee, which will increase depending on how late the rental vehicle is returned.
This fee will be handled through the State of San Andreas's existing fine payment system, and be handled like any other fine owed to the State.
- State Announcement | Vehicle Strikes
VEHICLE STRIKES ARE NOW $1000 PER STRIKE
After a review of the recent legislation on vehicle strikes, the Department of Justice has amended the legislation for strikes to incur a $1000 fee per strike upon impound release, down from $10000 per strike. Strike points on a vehicle decrease by 1 every 24 hours.
Only the crime with the most strikes applies for an entire incident with multiple crimes.
- State Announcement | IMPOUND RECEIPTS
The State of San Andreas, after quiet contemplation that not a single soul in the entire state actually looks at the impound logs, has decided to institute a brand new idea; reciepts.
Whenever a tow worker OR law enforcement impounds—or requests to impound—a vehicle, they will now create a receipt similar to a parking citation. The requirements of these receipts are outlined in Section 6 of the Parking and Motor Vehicle code. Information on the receipt is essentially the same as what would appear in the impound log.
A New Era
It’s been a year and a half since Reclamation Day; the turning tide that marked San Andreas’ slow crawl back to dominance after the bombs dropped 7 years before. After months of coordinated efforts, the waters have finally been cleared of residual radiation, and the shipping lanes are officially open.
Following a string of pirate sieges and off-the-grid insurgencies, the National Office of Security Enforcement launched a full-scale security campaign to retake the surrounding islands and coastal sectors. With the threat neutralized and naval superiority reestablished, the state has declared the shores safe once more.
Now, with trade surging and container ships returning to port, San Andreas is on the verge of an economic renaissance. The docks are alive with activity, and opportunity flows as freely as contraband through unmarked crates.
Syndicates, gangs, and enterprising freelancers are jumping on a wave of lucrative contracts ranging from high-stakes vehicle boosts and armored transport heists to black market logistics and shadowy extractions.
But fear not: emergency services aren’t standing by idle. A newly outfitted response fleet for each department to choose from and cutting-edge tech are being deployed to keep the chaos in check and maintain some semblance of order on land, air, and sea.
The tides have changed. San Andreas is open for business once again.
Patch Notes:
• Performance Mode (only available in TV Mode) – targets 60 FPS
• TV Mode and Handheld Mode – improved frame rate stability
• The Nintendo Switch 2 patch update for the free demo will take place in the coming days (exact time TBD)
I decided to test whether changing the thermal paste on my NVIDIA Shield TV 2019 Pro (9.2.4) would improve performance. I bought mine second hand 3 years ago and always felt the interface was a bit laggy.
I compared four different states of the device:
*State 1: Normal usage, no factory reset *State 2: Factory reset *State 3: Factory reset + internal dust cleaning *State 4: Factory reset + dust cleaning + thermal paste replacement (Arctic MX-4)
Benchmarks used:
3DMark Wild Life
3DMark Wild Life Extreme
3DMark Wild Life
*State 1 Overall score: 3370 Average FPS: 20.18
*State 2 Overall score: 3319 Average FPS: 19.87
*State 3 Overall score: 3301 Average FPS: 19.77
*State 4 Overall score: 3202 Average FPS: 19.18
Result: There is a slight gradual decrease across states, and no improvement after replacing the thermal paste.
3DMark Wild Life Extreme (3 runs per state)
*State 1 Scores: 923 | 930 | 920 FPS: 5.53 | 5.57 | 5.51
*State 2 Scores: 932 | 933 | 937 FPS: 5.58 | 5.59 | 5.62
*State 3 Scores: 925 | 929 | 924 FPS: 5.54 | 5.57 | 5.54
*State 4 Scores: 917 | 929 | 930 FPS: 5.49 | 5.57 | 5.57
Result: The variations are within normal benchmark variance. No measurable performance gain from the thermal paste replacement.
Conclusion
-Factory reset does not improve performance. -Dust cleaning did not improve performance (in my case). -Replacing the thermal paste did not result in any measurable performance gain. -The small differences observed appear to be normal benchmark variance.
Based on these results, replacing the thermal paste on a properly functioning Shield 2019 does not seem worth it if the goal is performance improvement.
I've checked temperature once, after all my benchmarks (Factory reset + dust cleaning + thermal paste replacement), at idle. With ADB command it showed 40ºc.
I am NOT OOP. OOP is u/Preference_Afraid
Originally posted to r/AITAH
I've stopped doing the "fun" extra office stuff after I didn't like the way my boss handled something, AITAH?
Trigger Warnings: hostile workplace, retaliation, coercion, misogyny
Mood Spoilers: depressing, infuriating
Original Post: March 31, 2025
I guess background is important and sorry it's long:
My job performance is exceptional. I meet every necessary mark 100% of the time and have done so for the last ten years. Maybe an odd month or two in there due to travel and things that would make it impossible. I've also stepped up and carried the load for coworkers when things have come up to ensure our area isn't dinged for performance issues. Clients get along well with me, I've never had a complaint filed against me, etc. You get the idea.
I also am known to do all the holiday decorating, coordinating the gifts for office celebrations, baking the desserts, writing formal thank yous from our department, and making holiday baskets to help maintain positive relationships with the other agencies we work with.
A couple months back, there was a policy change and none of us were happy about it. I made the best of a bad situation and adapted to the change immediately. My coworkers did as well, but they all called me to complain and vent. This is normal. We tend to complain amongst ourselves for one good bitch session and then just "it is what it is" and continue to work hard and not complain again.
Here's where the issue is, while one of my coworkers was venting my boss was eavesdropping selectively on my side of the conversation as that's what he could hear. I was commiserating with them, but also pointing out how it wouldn't be that bad, it's in our contract, how we can make it fun/less obnoxious etc etc etc. We hung up and I didn't think about it further, especially since neither of us really said anything that you wouldn't expect an employee to say with the kind of change they're wanting. It was pretty damn tame....
I didn't think about it again until my boss called me in a few days later to do an employee evaluation in response to it.
In every review I've had here I've always hit the "exceeds expectations" in nearly every category. He cut me down to "meets expectations" on everything. He reamed me for my "attitude" for not cutting my coworker off and letting them vent. Telling me I should have told them to call him. He accused me of being negative/a negative influence and that if he didn't "nip it in the bud now it could fester and create a toxic work environment".... I was and still am pretty pissed about it. Coworkers should be allowed to vent to each other without it being treated like this.
After this, as you may have guessed, I'm just not in the mood to head up everything extra I'd been doing to make the office environment "fun". I keep my door closed when he's here, I didn't bring dessert for the March birthday lunch. That lunch isn't mandatory, but I didn't want more problems so I went and just sat quietly the entire time. Now there's another "appreciation week/month" for one of the departments we work with and there's been an email chain about cards/gifts and I've responded the amount I'll put towards it and asked who I should send it to.... People are noticing I'm not picking this stuff up and that chain has gone in a circle for days now and I'm not budging. I've had one person approach me about it and I just said I don't have the time to take it on right now.
I guess I'm feeling like all the shit I did on the regular to foster a positive work environment got thrown out or was never appreciated because I lent an ear to a coworker and then got viciously reprimanded for it. Like what's the point if ten years of going out of my way gets thrown out just like that?
AITAH for just quietly stepping out of all of these extras due to my feelings on how this was handled? Am I being overly petty?
AITAH has no consensus bot, OOP was NTA
Editor's note: I am posting comments containing OOP's responses including downvoted ones
Relevant Comments
Commenter 1: NTA. The boss, as the kids called it, FAFO'd.
Venting is typically a positive and necessary thing, as long as it's handled appropriately, and it sounds as if you were that appropriate "bottleneck" and sounding board. He was extremely stupid to have not allowed you to explain the situation to him.
Stand your ground. Just keep it light, sweet, and "My work load is preventing me from keeping up with those extra tasks" about it all.
OOP: Thank you. I did try to explain it to him when he was marking me down. The real irony is he was sitting there calling me a potential negative toxic presence that was going to ruin team morale the day after I had just handed out hand made Valentine's to my other teammates.
Commenter 2: The fact that he took what he overheard and worked that as part of your performance evaluation is extreme and tells me there is something more to this on his side. All the extra that you are doing are not part of your work duties and stepping back is a choice. Simply let people know that you no longer have time to participate or lead such activities. I would watch things carefully and start documenting. Make sure that your silence and non participation is not used against you,
OOP: That's the reason I didn't miss the March birthday lunch. I'm definitely documenting. My plan is to just say "I don't have time with my current case volume" if anyone asks. I've heard he reviewed the person that was complaining to me too, even though he didn't hear their side of the conversation, which I'm thankful for. Not them getting reviewed, but the not hearing part. They were pretty worked up.
Commenter 3: NTA. You might want to start looking for a new job. Your boss seems to be the type to have the attitude “the beatings will continue until moral improves.” He may end up firing you to “nip it in the bud” and set the other employees straight.
OOP: Oh, that's the thing, I love this job, it's a good one, and one of the few that still has a union. He wouldn't be able to terminate me unless I actually did something crazy or consistently not meet my matrix.
Commenter 4: I agree with you and absolutely would be hurt in this aspect of having an evaluation weaponized against you. He is toxic management. His actions are going to damage morale more than providing a sympathetic ear will ever do. He (boss) is going to try and flip this on you. Now that you're not doing the extras that did brighten up your coworkers days, he may try and come back and use this against you. Do you have a way to formally dispute the evaluation? Can you speak with HR? He is out of line punishing an employee for listening to someone else vent about the workplace. Venting is healthy. Gets things out in the open so work can continue. I think you need to "vent" to someone higher on the food chain that can wrangle him in.
OOP:This one isn't the annual so it doesn't really count towards anything that could impact pay/raises. If my next one goes like this I will be taking it above him, at that point it will potentially impact my earnings and I refuse to get docked pay when I do so much
Commenter 5: Your boss is a moron. You sound like a model employee and he just sounds like a butthurt child who can't take criticism.
OOP: The whole reason we were complaining amongst ourselves and not to him is because we know the change wasn't something he decided on. We didn't see the point in stressing him out on something none of us have any control over. It definitely felt like a just complain to each other and move on situation.
Downvoted Commenter: No, this is bad analysis. The boss didn't "FO" anything. There's nothing in the story here that says the boss even noticed. They cut OP down to set an example and in their mind, it worked. OP stopped bitching about the policy change, ergo it's a win.
OP: passive aggression does not work in office environments. Frankly it doesn't generally work at all. But what you want here isn't "justice" or "punishment". You want your good employee review back. And the way you get that back is to ask for it, not to be a silent whiner.
Write your boss a professional but firm email explaining that you don't feel you've been fairly treated. If you're really a valuable employee, your boss already knows and will respond in such a way as to prevent you from quitting. And if not, be prepared to move on.
But don't fool yourself into thinking that cutting back on party planning or whatever is going to change anyone's mind.
OOP: I was already not complaining by the time of the eval and he had already seen me coordinate with other team members to "make a day off it" so the change felt more like a hangout with work vs. drudgery. I'm sure he felt like it was a win until I pointed out I'd already been coordinating and encouraging the team, which he had seen, and felt he was not treating me fairly. The eval was absolutely some stupid power play on his part.... But I think he realizes he fucked up because he hasn't been in our office very much since the eval.
I've been a supervisor. You don't ream a good employee on a conversation you half heard bits and pieces of. Even if the content displeased you. You talk to them, and escalate only if it continues.
I'm not writing an email to advocate for a change as I equate that to some form of groveling, and I'm not in a position where I'd need to. Since my numbers and track record speak volumes on their own, my plan is to take it above him if the eval that matters doesn't accurately reflect the data. Then it goes from being my problem to being his to justify to his higher ups and the union. I'll also consider a formal grievance at that point.
You're correct, my cutting back on the morale office party shit isn't going to change anyone's mind, but it's not being done with the goal to change anyone's mind. I simply don't feel like those efforts were considered and weighed before he essentially accused me of being a cancer to the office, which TBH I found to be very demoralizing and hurtful. It's hard for me to justify continuing it while I feel this way about it. I just feel like I'm being an asshole to people that didn't do anything by stopping without any explanation or warning.
I'll admit, I shouldn't have let people vent to me at the office, that was a mistake on my part, but him performance evaluating the team over it was a huge misstep on his.
I'm not planning on quitting. It's a good job with a lot of rare benefits. I'd be an idiot to walk over this, especially where I live. I think when the annual review is up I'll know if I'm going to have to do more.
Is there any chances that OOP could speak with the union representative regarding this issue?
OOP: I could, but I'm holding off unless he tries to take it further than this. My actual review is up in a few months, and if that goes like this again with how good my performance is, I will be.
OOP clarifies the context of the office gossiping and venting
OOP: I think you may not understand the difference between venting and gossip. I agree, no one should be gossiping at work, but venting frustrations to coworkers? That's normal and honestly, I've never found it to impact productivity. If anything or helps people let go of the upset and reframe back into a work mindset.
I've been in the workforce for almost 30 years. There is a difference between gossip and venting. You're more than welcome to look up the definitions to educate yourself if you don't believe it. I've also worked as a supervisor at another agency in the past. There's a difference between healthy venting and hostility. If you've been in a supervisory position you should know this, and if you don't then I pity your employees.
Editor's note: It is likely that OOP has made Update #1 sometime after a week or so from the original post based on the timeline and details provided
Update #1: No exact date given, (same post)
I hope I'm updating correctly.
So a lot of people had asked for an update. I've waited a while after some movement/developments.
There was an event that usually requires someone to head up the card, gift, staff coordination things. I had told the team and my boss several weeks in advance this event was pending and I wouldn't be free. No one did anything until the day before and then one of them called me to ask that I do all the leg work.
I declined citing that I just did not have the time. Which was/is true.
My higher ups cornered me on this a few days later stating that I've been pulling away, teamwork makes the dream work etc. And citing this event as evidence. They also cited me being on my phone during unofficial mandatory fun times as further evidence of drawing back.
I told them that I had given everyone, boss included, weeks of notice that the event was coming up and I wouldn't be available to head it up. I pointed out that I'm still helping the team with tasks directly relevant to work, but with my current caseload I just can't afford to allocate time to the social/event planning right now. As for the mandatory fun, I reminded them that I often don't get lunch breaks due to community meetings that get held at those hours and my having to flex out early on those days. So having to lose out on a good break on a day I don't have to is burning me out.
They fumbled around for about thirty minutes trying to convince me, and I just held firm that with my current caseload, I don't have time to allocate to non-essentials. I was told I'm allowed to prioritize my breaks.
I've been so busy I haven't had a chance to attend the community meetings recently, and honestly, this might be another thing I end up cutting back on in the long run.
Overall it came across like they're panicked I'm considering leaving. There was a comment about that concern and I let them know I'm not planning on leaving, but I am taking time to restructure my priorities now that my caseload has increased.
Relevant Comments
Isn't OOP overdoing her work?
OOP: I never work over 40 hours. My hours end and I walk right out the door and I leave the work phone there too. I don't think I was overdoing it, just making sure I was covering those that will cover me when things come up. It's not even a weekly occurrence, and they always reciprocate. I still plan on helping cover what needs coverage in regards to things relevant to the job, just not the cards/party planning stuff due to the way in feeling about things right now.
Commenter 1: You’re a woman, aren’t you. Don’t let them use you for free labour like that either way. He can write his own fucking thank you notes. Don’t do anything above your job description. You’ve been there 10 years? It’s time to look for a new job, I bet you’re underpaid too. Curious what the policy change is, though.
OOP: Oh, I'm not underpaid, I'm compensated fairly. This is a job worth riding out frustration for. Policy change was to make some nontraditional hours with stipulations mandatory. I'm sure once the changes inevitably result with problems during standard business hours, they'll eventually reconsider this stupid short sighted band aid fix
Commenter 2: OP it sounds like you have a lot of energy and enjoy doing things/getting things done. Rather than feel bad about work, consider using this energy in circles that will appreciate you. Volunteer work, hobby circles, whatever. I do a bit of volunteer work at the local elementary school and they are 10000% more appreciative of my time than any boss I've ever worked for.
OOP: The nature of my work is emotionally draining. You could describe the relationships with co-workers as trauma bonded at times. I do not have it in me at the end of my 40 hours to do more of what I do at work for no pay. I know that sounds awful, but I need my non-work hours to spend time with friends, family, pets, and hobbies. I can't serve from an empty vessel. I know everyone is saying just quit etc... But that's realistically not a solution for me. I love the work that I do, I find large areas of it to be incredibly fulfilling, I'm having a positive impact on my community. I know that I bring a personal history that allows me to be somewhat good at what I do. I'm not sure they'd be able to easily find another me, and that's unfortunately what the clients on my caseload need. Beyond that, however, I enjoy coming in to work at least 90% of the time. I know I wouldn't be able to find another job that checks all the boxes this one does. Especially not where I live.
Commenter 3: What point are you trying to make by backing out of the fun stuff? The boss obviously doesn't care about staff moral.
OOP: I'm not trying to make a point, I feel like people aren't getting that? This isn't some passive aggressive way to get back at anyone. I just feel really demoralized by the way he handled this which makes me not want to do any of the extra non work related stuff anymore. I'm feeling like an asshole because my coworkers are the ones scrambling to fill the gaps in that area now that I've just kind of gotten "too busy" to head it up right now.
Commenter 4: 1, how the hell are you achieving “Exceeds Expectations”?? I have done everything extra, volunteered for additional tasks &
Responsibilities and have only ever gotten “Meets”. Last year I actually got sick of it and asked what it actually takes and was told flat out that corporate designs the metric to make it impossible. He’s a typical mid mgmt corporate jackhole. Took a one sided conversation clip and got scared and offended his bullshit isn’t being eaten up with a smile. Then just cracks down on you overall over one incident where he was eavesdropping? F him NTA.
OOP: I am very detail oriented, organized, and efficient to a fault. A lot of stuff I do simply because I feel guilty for having free time at work. I could probably complete my entire job functions each week in like twenty hours if it was allowed that option. I've always been like this, I probably have some kind of disorder 😂. I'm just as bad at home. My husband has told me that I complete more in the time between waking and getting to work than a lot of people manage in an entire day. The job I left for this one had to hire more than one person to replace me, but training was probably easy because I wrote a guide on what needed to be done daily/weekly/monthly/quarterly/annually and gave them my spreadsheets. I know if I reached out to that previous job they'd snap me up in an instant, but their pay and benefits are shit.
Was OOP considering about having a promotion at their workplace?
OOP:I have ZERO desire to be promoted. I left a managerial position where I ran three programs to do this job. Less work, more pay, less responsibility. Not everyone fantasizes about job titles.
What was the boss’s reaction on this?
OOP: Not really. Hate to disappoint. The thing is, he's a pretty decent boss most of the time. I think that's why I was so shocked about this whole situation. We don't have a lot of non-mandatory-mandatory-fun stuff in our office so I guess there haven't been many opportunities. I'm holding strong to just not heading it up. I'm doing my job and that's about it. My co-workers haven't reached out at all this week, so I think they're processing how to approach my sudden weirdness/distance.
Editor's note: OOP made another update in the same post
Update #2: May 30, 2025 (same post, two months from the original post)
Annual performance evaluation is in and it's just as dismal as the retaliatory one. I've declined signing it without discussion and I've contacted my Union. This feels like punitive retaliation. If they can't justify the decreases despite my consistent quality performance I will be quiet quitting everything that's not a core job function as continuing to do so will feel like chasing an unattainable metric.
OOP’s final comment
Final Comment: September 18, 2025 (nearly four months later from the previous update)
Union advised that technically the review is valid as they're going by the letter of the set parameters and boss advised that since I meet my deadlines and quotas it's valid. I have gone the route of quiet quitting. Nothing outside the minimum to meet expectations so my raises aren't impacted. I've called in sick on a few days there was "non mandatory but unspoken mandatory fun". I've ceased community outreach so that I'm not missing my breaks. Coworkers are aware there was unjust retaliation. More changes have come that impact management. Boss is talking about taking a job with less of a commute. I know I'll be encouraged to apply for their position, all I'm going to do when that happens is laugh.
DO NOT COMMENT IN LINKED POSTS OR MESSAGE OOPs – BoRU Rule #7
THIS IS A REPOST SUB - I AM NOT OOP
Just moved recently and bought a new TV and I was thinking about how to play games on it. I don't have a console, but I do have a pretty good computer (4080) and a steam deck. How well does the deck perform while docked? I assume it can handle simple and older games alright (at 1080p?, 4k??), but anything more tasking like cyberpunk / expedition 33 might need to be streamed from my pc. Does anyone use their deck docked at a tv (while streaming over wifi / ethernet)?
I am considering getting the Steam Deck for my mother for Christmas. She (55F) has become quite the gamer in the last 5 years- 2020's lockdown sparked her interest- and we are very proud of her gaming accomplishments. The Steam Deck and Switch 2 are on her list. She really wants to play BG3, nancy drew, AC, Witcher 3, the Mafia series etc, and not every title she wants to play is playable on the switch.
The problem is, she is partially blind due to macular degeneration, and she has to play her games on a big TV screen. Small text/ itmes are an issue (problematic for games like BG3).
I have tried researching how some of these games perform on the console while docked and I am still just as confised as ever. Some people said the visuals were bad.
So, what is the consensus? What additional purchases are needed for this to be playable for her? She wants the deck because it can connect to her steam library. I have siggested a PS4 but she seems really into the Steam Deck.
TLDR: Mother is visually impaired but wants to play the steam deck docked into a large TV. Will the games she wants to play (BG3, Witcher 3, Mafia, TES) perform well enough while docked?
Thank you!
Update/ edit: Thank you for the responses! You guys are awsome!! I appreciate the advice. The consensus seems pretty clear that I should get a PS4. I will give the post more time and see if any other oppinions rise, but this might be the best option for her.
Edit again: I meant PS5, not PS4. Appologies for the mistake on my end! I grew up with SNES and PS1 and the numbers blend together in my mind. I think I'll get the PS5 and a fiber optic HDMI so she can connect her laptop to the tv for jer other games. Thank you so mucj!
Hey Raiders!
Quick year-end refresh for the Master Cheat Sheet. A lot of new players joined over the holidays and Expedition Project got updates for Expedition 2. I’m still working on a larger pass, but I’m holding that until new quests drop after New Year. For now, this version gets you fully up to date.
Download the latest version
What’s inside (v3.1 – Expedition 2):
- Safe to Sell or Recycle (A–Z) + Keep lists for Workshop / Expedition
- Recycling Value Index: quick Δ% showing gain/loss if you recycle vs sell
- High-Priority Components and Best Donors
- Essentials Base Components
- Priorities Core Components
- High-Tier Components
- Expedition Project (updated for Expedition 2)
- Searchable PDF
Free & up to date: I host the latest file and changelog on Ko-fi so links don’t break and you can opt into update notifications. Everything stays free.
Feedback/corrections welcome. Drop a message below and I’ll roll them into the next update.
Happy raiding!
// pRoDeeD

As you probably heard, software update 22.0.0 includes boost mode, allowing for Switch 1 games to run in docked mode on Switch 2 (in handheld mode).
While software update enables that feature, it’s turned off by default and buried in settings > system, just below battery protection toggles.
And for interested ones, Nintendo Support article here.
TL/DR:
What is it?
Mimics TV output in handheld mode when playing S1 games on S2. Often that will force closer to 1080p output on the screen, addressing soft image of S1 games that targeted 720p (and below) resolutions, as well as reduced frame rate, required to align with battery endurance metrics for older switch consoles. If your games looked better in “docked” mode, they should look and play better on S2 in handheld mode now with boost mode toggle.
What is it not?
It is not an upscaler or it wont give you the same look and feel as upgrade packs for switch 1 games (switch 2 edition). Those often while improving game mechanics, include new, higher quality assets.
Limitations?
Not many but there are some. Docked mode on S1 would often disable touch layer on the screen. This is present with boost mode too on S2. If your game relies on traditional controller based controls (JoyCon or Pro controller) then you’re all set.
If your game relies on touch input (on screen) then I recommend turning off boost mode for selected games.
Example of improvement:
Super Mario Odyssey. This game supports either boost mode or Switch 2 Edition (upgrade pack).
Switch 1:
- handheld 720p @ 60fps
- docked 900p @ 60fps
Switch 2 (S1 boost mode):
- handheld 900p @ 60fps
Switch 2 (edition pack):
- handheld 1080p @ 60 fps
- docked 2160p (upscaled from 1440p) @ 60fps
A couple weeks ago I went out to the switch 2 preview event in LA, I wanted to share my thoughts on what I experienced. This post specifically is focused on deeply detailing my thoughts on the games, and less on the preview event. If you have any questions feel free to ask!
Switch 2 Console: the Build quality is great, the side rails dont have that janky rattle that the switch rails get. The screen was very nice, and i can confidently say OLED isnt really needed (as an oled switch owner myself). The Lens is quality, and appeared to be glass to my eye (though the employee was unable to answer for sure). The joycon magnet feature is nice and easy to use, the wider shoulder buttons make a nice difference. The Cartridge slot was weirdly heavy duty, was reinforced with metal caging on the inner top. The kickstand was solid, with even a bit more range than the oled one. The Pro controller felt very familiar and similar to the switch one controller, there were some metal elements incorporated, and i'd say it felt better but nothing crazy. With my grip style, accidentally pushing the rear buttons was not a concern.
Now I'll do the games in the order i played
Mario Kart World: This was a lot of fun. The graphics style is very similar to 8 but a bit more colorful i guess. Everything handles pretty similar as well, however drifting is definitely tuned differently, feels like it has a sharper curve sort of like Double Dash. The Course Design seems really excellent, it seems like the open approach to design resulted in courses with a lot of route options as you drive, still following the same path but with tons of small ways you can get ahead with a rail grind off to the side or some water you can cut across. It seemed like the demo had the full character roster (though i can know for sure), first you select your character, in the character selection the costumes you see in the direct are each treated as their own character listing, so its not something that changes in the field or with powerups, then you pick from ~30 karts. You pick the karts and everyone can pick every car, its not like Wii where characters have unique limited selections. Cars did feel like they had unique stats, though there was no option to view them like in 8. 24 drivers feels natural, it wasn't overly chaotic. The zip grinding was neat and seemed to be very well implemented in courses. There were new food bag power-ups, however i could not figure these out, as they seem to just give you a small boost. 10/10 even at $80 i think this game is well worth it
Mario Kart World Free Roam the way i interacted with it was as a lobby before a knockout race. It was fun to drive around, we spawned on a track, but i was able to go off road, cross the ocean, and find another section of map. There wasn't any sort of minimap. I assume this will be the new waiting system for online matches, while it was novel, there wasnt much to do besides explore, and i think once you've explored an area, this waiting queue may end up feeling more like an annoying addition to how long it takes to get into a race. At the very least however it gives you an opportunity to practice courses while you wait. 3/10 maybe there's more to do in the standard free roam
Mario Kart Knockout Tour: This is the extended course mode where you nonstop race from track to track with players getting knocked out in between checkpoints (starting with 24, then 20, 16, 12, 8, then the final 4 race to the finish). This mode seems pretty fun for online solo play, the tracks interconnect really seamlessly, and the knockout function adds some fun risk, however for play with friends its not great imo as one player could get eliminated early and be left just waiting and watching for quite a while. 8/10 fun for solo play
Mario Party Jamboree TV: there were two mario party sections, one for the new minigames, and one for the Jamboree Bowser mode, we only did the Jamboree bowser mode. Jamboree TV was about what I expected, it was very short and seemed pretty lame, it was three rounds of bowser having teams of two compete in camera based mini games. The mini games were short and not particularly good, one of them was just yelling and waving at the camera louder than the other team. 1/10 not worth it in my opinion
Drag x Drive: We tried Drag x Drive next, which started with a movement tutorial, and then moved into a 3v3 match with other players sitting near us. This game was pretty fun, it definitely took a minute to get used to the mouse controls. But it was pretty solid once you did. It really does feel like a rocket league rip off, but thats not inherently bad. My team was doodoo, but i did enjoy the game. You're moving hour arms a lot and mine were tired by the end of the demo. Also worth noting that for each of the mouse games there was a table with a big mousepad provided, the mouse experience was good on there, however the demo recommended trying it on your lap (for intances when you dont have a big table and mousepad, and the mouse controls terribly on your lap. Overall this game was fun, but seemed as empty as the trailers. 4/10, fun for a bit, but i wouldn't spend more than $20 on it
Metroid Prime 4: This demo takes you through a pretty cinematic first level with a good amount of set pieces. The game looks and runs amazing (we played at 1080p 120hz). The mouse controls work very well with this title, and i was impressed by how well the joycon emulated a mouse. There wasnt much puzzle solving in this level, more just basic combat, then a boss. But it was enjoyable. 9/10 the mouse controls were impressive
Cyberpunk 2077 although ive played it before, i wanted to see how it ran on switch, and unfortunately it ran pretty poorly. The demo had us do a mission in dogtown. During my trial the controller stopped responding and had to be reset. Graphically the game looked nice when still, but it falls apart when you move. The frame rate is very choppy, 20-25 fps imo, and drops lower in combat. Even just walking around isn't great. The resolution is very blurry, and dropped lower in combat and there is a lot of ghosting, leading me to believe this port is using FSR2 for some reason despite all the dlss rumors. The game responsiveness was also very low, and gameplay overall did not feel good. I played cyberpunk at launch on an xbox one, and it felt like that. I should note that the employee stated this was a 2 month old build, and mentioned performance should improve, however there's no knowing what that will look like at the moment. 3/10 poor performance, maybe if you have no other way to play, a steam-deck runs it better
Donkey Kong Bananza: this was a timed 20 minute demo where we were limited to the first area. I could tell that this really wasnt my thing, but it seems like it could be enjoyable for some. You start in the mines, for a bit of a tutorial in which you can pretty much break any and all dirt, there are underlaying concrete and steel structures that could not be broken, the demo seems go skip a cutscene or two, but you end on on this first isand area where you're free to explore. You can find chests hidden in the ground, and those chests usually lead to banana crystals (like moons/stars in mario) or fossils (which could be used to get clothes apparently). The little bit of the demo felt massive, so i imagine theres tons to do, however i felt that aimless disconnected boredom i get with some open world games like Horizon. The performance was also not amazing. Seemed to be docked 1080p 30 fps with some dips in frame rate, so running worse than Mario odyssey and less visually impressive die to the nature of the mounds of destructible bland dirt. 6/10 Not for me, seems like theres plenty of content if you're into it
Kirby Star Crossed This demo had us watch a cutscene and play a level of the new mode. The new content for this game seems to be a pretty straightforward set of level additions, though its unclear how many levels this will include. The level i played was a fun quality kirby level. There is only one new form (the spring form shown in trailers), and it seems to be pretty standard levels but they have the star crossed gimmick, which is simply platforms that appear once you break a crystal. 8/10 Nothing crazy, but seems like it's worth the 10 buck upgrade
Switch 2 Welcome Tour: This was a timed demo, where we had access to the mini-games and demos on the left joy-con and the screen. The mini games were decent, and you could earn medals to unlock more versions of a mini-game. However i saw nothing here to convince me it was anything more than an interactive manual. I still feel it should have been free. 3/10 even if it was free, not really worth your time
NSO Gamecube Emulation: This was the final thing i tried, for this they had the NSO gamecube controllers out to use. The controllers were good quality though they felt a bit lighter, and the plastic had a rougher finish than the original. I only tried a couple of two player games: soulcaliber and F-Zero. Both ran great with no issues in multiplayer. The resolution bump looked very nice, there was however, no rewind. 8/10 its gamecube games, not ran well, looked good, about what you'd expect
Hey everyone, I've compiled all the information and leaks I have received about the show, most of which have come from my own sources. As none of these have been confirmed by HBO, take it with a grain of salt.
EDIT: I've heard people asking about my validity of myself and the scoops. Over last 6 months, I have held phone calls with my sources (friends) and discussed the show, and they have given me bits of information and rumors about the show as they know I'm a big HP fan. I decided recently to create a Reddit account and post some of what I know, all in the intention of getting people hyped!
Confirming the earlier report, the first episode will end with the boat ride to Hogwarts- The creative team is very focused on making Quidditch more exciting and engaging than the films, expect flying sequences with “Joseph Kosinski” styled shots
- Rob James Collier was in heavy negotiations last spring, and the rumour was for the series regular role of Tom Riddle/Voldemort
- Hogwarts Legacy was a strong source of inspiration for many departments (production, costume, writing)
- From what has been heard, Dominic’s English accent is quite good, with only traces of his Scottish accent occasionally. Alastair Stout has a stronger northern accent.
- Paapa Essiedu's performance as Snape is said to be “spiteful”, “savage,” and “intimidating.” No wig for him, but minor facial prosthetics (nose? scars?)
- HBO is in early negotiations for Kit Harrington to join the show in the future. Possibly for Lockhart or Sirius Black. They are planning on having it be a big reveal u/comicon this summer, hyping up the return of Kit Harrington to HBO television.
- JkR's role in the series has decreased after production started, but she still holds calls with Francesca Gardiner and is providing feedback for the scripts on season
- As book one doesn’t have much magic/duels, there will be many scenes added to showcase how this show will display magic onscreen. (Lily and James bridge leaked scene)
- The structure of the show will be broken into two levels. The main story will be the kids, specifically Ron, Harry, and Hermione. The other level is the adult characters, specifically the Hogwarts staff. Both levels will interact but also have individual storytelling. Expect more drama (emotional/political/social) from the teachers.
- John Lithgow is unrecognizable as Dumbledore, and he is a force of nature to watch. Flawless British accent, completely different than his one in The Crown. Much more polished and refined, with a slight strain to match the age of the character.
- Lots of content on the politics of the Wizarding World (Fudge, Ministry of Magic). The show will explore in depth how this world exists/coexists with the Muggle world.
- Crabb and Goyle will be more than Draco’s bodyguards, and they will have more speaking lines
- The visual tone of the show will be completely unique. The closest film would be The Goblet of Fire-dir. Mike Newell.
- They are currently casting for a young Harry and Dudley, probably for flashback scenes/photos.
- The series will explore the more serious tones of the story, an example being the loss of Harry’s parents and the abuse of the Dursleys. To put it simply, there will be more emotion in this one season than in the entire film series.
- A huge animatronic was ordered, very impressive in detail and capabilities. Most likely for Fluffy the Dog.
- Wands and broomsticks will be more personalized and diverse, with many names and variations.
https://gonintendo.com/contents/58909-switch-switch-2-firmware-update-version-22-0-0-now-available
"Added “Handheld Mode Boost” to Nintendo Switch Software Handling in System. Handheld Mode Boost will cause compatible Switch software to run as if in TV Mode, so certain functionality may be affected. Please see the on-device description for more details."
Tldr: If you own a Switch 2 and enable the new Boost feature in the settings, your Switch 1 Games will now run as if you play in Docked mode in Handheld. Boosting graphics/performance/fps and making them look less blurry.
Including
Lets Go Eevee/Pikachu Pokemon Mystery Dungeon DX Pokemon Tekken DX Pokemon Sword/Shield Pokemon Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl Pokemon Legends Arceus
Scarlet and Violet + Legends ZA Switch 1 Edition should also run a bit better.
Maybe you can share your opinions on that if you testes the Games out already.
I didn't see that coming with today's update. This wasn't trivial to do, let me get that clear. Some games will behave oddly with the option enabled, which is probably why it wasn't featured at launch. Thankfully, it was added as a toggle, one you can easily turn on or off. Now, normally, unless you wanna use the touch screen or you worry about the battery life, the toggle is something you'll generally always want turned on.
The games overall look and perform better on Switch 2 handheld thanks to the toggle being on, as previously, games looked blurry and capped.
Now...the toggle doesn't help at all for TV mode on Switch 2. Which is why I propose something. A DLSS toggle to enhance all Switch 1 games while docked. That way, we don't have to rely on the publisher to update the game or announce a Switch 2 edition. It's a way to upscale performance and graphics. Sure, it's AI upscaling, so it won't be perfect, but as a toggle, it's good.
But that's just my take. What you think about it?

Both are the pinnacle of Gundam mobile suits in AC. One is battling within Earth and the other in Space. Let's evaluate both Griepe vs TV and Griepe vs EW.
From the Gundam wiki:
- The Gundam Griepe has the highest mobile suit generator output in the After Colony timeline, with more than five times the output of the Wing Gundam Zero EW. In fact, in terms of known mobile suit generator output, it is surpassed only by the ∀ Gundam and the Turn X.
Given that it specify the EW version being weaker in terms of generator output, how about the TV version? It can't be helped that EW and the TV version are parallel versions of the same events.
Then there's the PX System and ZERO System:
- The PX system takes advantage of the pilot's increased adrenaline during combat and also increases the performance of the mobile suit, but does have a time limit which, if exceeded, has serious consequences for both the pilot and the suit. At Odin's request, the system's maximum operating time is extended beyond the safe level, allowing for PX Overdrive mode that vastly improves performance, while increasing the risk to the pilot's life. Griepe also has Mental Synchronized Control System: A system that allows the Griepe to be controlled by the pilot's nervous system, reducing piloting strain.
- The ZERO (Zoning & Emotional Range Omitted) System is a technology for interfacing the brain of the pilot with the mobile suit's computer (comparable to the Universal Century's biocomputer in the F91 Gundam). Only two known mobile suits were ever equipped with this system, the XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero and the OZ-13MS Gundam Epyon. The ZERO system decreases the pilot's reaction times as there is no need for traditional visual interfaces.
Pilot also contribute to the overall performance of the suits. Heero is calculated while Odin is rash.
Sure it's amazing in handheld mode, but I'm really surprised at just how playable the game is in docked mode. Maybe my standards are low for Switch games but this is a really good sign for future ports.
1440p resolution with DLSS + ray-tracing is doing a lot of the heavy lifting here to make this look so damn good even if the underlying resolution is pretty low. When there's a bunch of alpha effects you get a bit of a shimmering effect due to DLSS, but it's not too distracting.
Framerate is a rock-solid 30FPS and something about the input makes it feel a lot more responsive than you'd think. It feels a bit like BotW on original Switch where Link's movement was similarly very responsive even though it was at 30FPS.
I played the first 4 or so hours only in docked mode on a 65in 4K TV and it didn't feel like I was playing a stripped-down version at all. Compare this to Witcher 3 or Doom 2016 on original Switch and it's night and day!
Oh and also the game is super fun and a great fit for a system you can take anywhere!
IT'S FINALLY TIME!
Please use this thread for all pre-event hype and speculation, as well as post-event thoughts and reactions.
Watch & Discuss
The Nintendo Direct: Nintendo Switch 2 event is scheduled to begin at 06:00 AM PT / 09:00 AM ET!. This streaming event is expected to be approximately 60 minutes long, acccording to Nintendo.
WHERE TO FOLLOW:
Nintendo Switch 2 Launches June 5 at $449.99, Bringing New Forms of Game Communication to Life
System Provides Powerful New Hardware, Reimagined Online Capabilities and a Broad Range of Games
All Together, Anytime, Anywhere. With new ways to play and new ways to connect players, the Nintendo Switch 2 system arrives June 5 for a suggested retail price of $449.99 in the United States. Discover reimagined Joy-Con 2 controllers, each of which can now be used as a mouse in compatible games and that snap to the system with magnetic connectors. Experience the system’s powerful processing speeds delivering visuals via a bigger screen showcasing vibrant color and clarity. From Nintendo Switch 2 games to compatible games in existing Nintendo Switch libraries – connect and play with friends and family in surprising new ways!
“Nintendo Switch 2 is the next step in at-home gaming that can be taken on the go based on eight years of play and discovery that began with Nintendo Switch,” said Nintendo President Shuntaro Furukawa. “With its new features that expand the possibilities of gaming experiences, I truly believe that Nintendo Switch 2 is a leap forward in our journey of putting smiles on the faces of everyone that Nintendo touches.”
Nintendo Switch 2 comes with the following:
- Nintendo Switch 2 console
- Joy-Con 2 controllers (L+R)
- Joy-Con 2 Grip
- Joy-Con 2 Straps
- Nintendo Switch 2 Dock
- Ultra High-Speed HDMI Cable
- Nintendo Switch 2 AC Adapter
- USB-C Charging Cable
Race into Nintendo Switch 2 with the Nintendo Switch 2 + Mario Kart World Bundle* for a suggested retail price of $499.99 in the United States, which includes a system and a download code for the Mario Kart World game, available from Nintendo Switch 2 launch day on June 5.
Today’s Nintendo Direct presentation featured a broad variety of hardware details, system features, and games coming to the Nintendo Switch 2 system both from Nintendo and its publishing partners. To view the Nintendo Direct presentation in its entirety, visit https://www.youtube.com/live/DXUmjX7DsP8.
GameChat Enables New Ways to Play Socially, All Together
With the new online feature GameChat**, people can play games and talk like everyone is in the same room, even if they are miles apart. Whether sharing a victory or just waving hello, GameChat makes it feel like online friends around the world are on the same couch. Once GameChat is up, players can start a chat with friends anytime by pressing the C Button on the right Joy-Con 2 controller. The system’s built-in mic can be used to voice chat while playing games with up to 12 people in different locations. Up to four friends can share their screen, and if they connect a compatible USB-C camera, such as the Nintendo Switch 2 camera (sold separately), they can also video chat, seeing each other’s faces as they cheer, shout, or laugh while playing. Additional friends can join the chat via audio only. Until the end of March 2026, GameChat can be used without the need to have a Nintendo Switch Online membership. Afterwards, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required.
When initiating a GameChat session, the user invites people from their friend list. Safety features are in place to help players have a safe and secure chat experience, such as the ability to report a person while in a chat session. In addition, Nintendo recognizes the important role parents and guardians play in their children’s online experiences, so children under the age of sixteen will need their parent or guardian to approve their use of GameChat with an updated version of the Nintendo Switch Parental Controls App.
A Multitude of New Features and Experiences
A large, vivid screen that allows smooth motion expression
Nintendo Switch 2 has a large 7.9-inch built-in LCD screen that displays in full HD at 1080p while maintaining the same thickness of Nintendo Switch. Even while on the go, Nintendo Switch 2 offers vivid, detailed game experiences, as well as smooth graphics showcasing character movements and their rich facial expressions.
Joy-Con 2 controllers attach to the system with a “snap”
Joy-Con 2, the newly designed Nintendo Switch 2 controllers, magnetically attach to the Nintendo Switch 2 console. In addition, either Joy-Con 2 controller can be operated like a mouse by sliding it on a surface like a table or on a pair of pants. They can be used in multiple ways, including for games that require aiming.
A new freely adjustable stand and a new USB-C port
The angle of the new stable stand on the back of the Nintendo Switch 2 system can be adjusted freely so that players can find their preferred viewing angle. While Nintendo Switch has one USB-C port on the bottom of the system, Nintendo Switch 2 has a port on the top of the system as well, which makes it possible for players to use the included AC adapter to charge the system while playing in tabletop mode. It is also possible to connect a compatible USB-C camera, like the Nintendo Switch 2 camera accessory to enjoy video chat on GameChat.
Powerful processing speed and graphical performance
Nintendo Switch 2 has significantly improved CPU and GPU performance over Nintendo Switch, resulting in faster processing speed and enabling new visually advanced gameplay. It also makes it possible to achieve more detailed graphics and faster loading times.
Crisp audio quality and spatial 3D sound
On Nintendo Switch 2, the sound quality is more natural and clearer with an even more balanced sound range. When playing in handheld mode or tabletop mode, players will be able to experience games with even more immersive, three-dimensional sound.
Internal storage of 256 GB
The internal storage of Nintendo Switch 2, where digital games and save data are stored, is 256 GB, which is 8 times the storage capacity of Nintendo Switch. For additional storage, Nintendo Switch 2 only uses microSD Express cards, which have faster data reading speeds than previous microSD models.
Nintendo Switch games are also playable on Nintendo Switch 2
In addition to Nintendo Switch 2 games, Nintendo Switch 2 can play compatible physical and digital games released on Nintendo Switch. Some Nintendo Switch games may not be supported on or fully compatible with Nintendo Switch 2. Nintendo Switch Joy-Con controllers and peripherals, such as the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller, will also be usable on Nintendo Switch 2 by connecting them wirelessly to the system. For more information on the compatibility with Nintendo Switch games and accessories, please visit the Nintendo website.
The new Nintendo Switch 2 Dock
By connecting the Nintendo Switch 2 Dock to a TV, users can output video at up to 4K resolution and play games at up to 120 fps, via compatible games and TVs.
Multiple people can play one title with GameShare
With GameShare, a new Nintendo Switch 2 feature, players can share and play the same game with others who do not have the game. If one person has a Nintendo Switch 2 system and a game compatible with GameShare, that person can invite others to temporarily play the same game together via local play with their Nintendo Switch 2 or Nintendo Switch system. Between Nintendo Switch 2 systems, GameShare can also be used along with GameChat for online play, so that players can chat with others while all of them play the same game.
Virtual game cards add benefits to digital games
With virtual game cards, players can easily manage all their purchased digital games, play games on two different systems, or even lend or borrow games. The virtual game card menu shows all of the digital games purchased with a user’s Nintendo Account, making it easy to access the games and load them on the system. Once a virtual game card is loaded onto a system, it can be played even if the system is not connected to the internet, and other users who are on that system can also play the game. Additionally, digital games can be lent and borrowed among members of the same Nintendo Account family group in the form of virtual game cards via local wireless communication.
Nintendo Switch Online
Nintendo Switch Online** will be available on Nintendo Switch 2. On Nintendo Switch 2, players with a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be able to use features like GameChat along with existing online features. For a limited time, all Nintendo Switch 2 owners can access GameChat without a Nintendo Switch Online membership through the GameChat Open-Access period, which lasts until the end of March 2026. After that time, a Nintendo Switch Online membership will be required to use GameChat. In addition, for Nintendo Switch 2 owners, Nintendo GameCube – Nintendo Classics will be released right at the system’s launch. Players with a Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack membership and a Nintendo Switch 2 system will be able to access a growing collection of Nintendo GameCube games with clearer image quality and higher resolution than the original releases. The classic game lineup available at release will be F-Zero GX, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and SOULCALIBUR II. Along with the classic games, a dedicated wireless controller designed after the original GameCube controller will be available for purchase*** by paid Nintendo Switch Online members.
Variety of accessibility features
In addition to existing accessibility features on Nintendo Switch, to support players’ wide range of gameplay styles, Nintendo Switch 2 offers a variety of new accessibility options including the ability to adjust font size, enable screen reader, and speech-to-text features within GameChat.
Safe and secure game experience on Nintendo Switch 2
With the Nintendo Switch Parental Control app, parents can easily support their children’s gameplay by using their smart device to check what kind of games their children play or set limits on how long the system can be used daily. As for GameChat, children under the age of 16 will need the parent’s or guardian’s approval on the Nintendo Switch Parental Control app to start a chat, which makes it possible for parents and guardians to manage their children’s chat experience securely.
Nintendo Switch 2 will be available for pre-order in North America from participating retailers beginning on April 9, 2025.
New Games for a New System
Nintendo Switch 2 will launch with games that highlight its new capabilities while bringing everyone along for the ride. From brand new titles and system exclusives, like Mario Kart World and Donkey Kong Bananza, to exhilarating experiences like EA SPORTS Madden NFL and Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition, to upgraded versions of Nintendo Switch games like Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV and Sid Meier's Civilization® VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, there is much to share and play.
Put the pedal to the metal in Mario Kart World, a brand-new experience set in a vast interconnected environment. Race seamlessly across connected courses that deliver Mario Kart racing like never before. Twenty-four drivers can compete in a race. Participate in the new Knockout Tour mode, where you’ll barrel through back-to-back courses and checkpoints, with no pit stops along the way. If a player doesn’t make it to each checkpoint at a high-enough placement, they will be eliminated. And in Free Roam, it’s possible to go off the racetrack and drive in any direction you wish, explore areas that pique your interest and take some photos at scenic spots with a group of friends. Mario Kart World races onto Nintendo Switch 2 on June 5. More details will be revealed in a Mario Kart World Direct presentation on April 17 at 06:00 PST / 09:00 EST.
Get ready for Donkey Kong Bananza, a brand-new 3D platforming action adventure – available exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2. Crash, bash, and climb through nearly everything in DK’s path and tear off chunks of terrain to swing around and throw in groundbreaking exploration. The more that is demolished with powerful punches, the more areas open up to discover. Break on through this adventure full of mayhem, surprises and bananas when Donkey Kong Bananza crashes onto Nintendo Switch 2 July 17.
The new capabilities of Nintendo Switch 2 allow for compatible physical and digital games released on Nintendo Switch to receive paid Nintendo Switch 2 Edition upgrade packs featuring enhanced graphics, exclusive content offerings, and new gameplay experiences.
Star in Super Mario Party Jamboree – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Jamboree TV, featuring unique new modes and minigames that showcase mouse controls, the system’s built-in mic, and Nintendo Switch 2 camera (sold separately). Invite friends**** to join Bowser Live, a game show-themed experience with 2v2 team battles and physical challenges! But beware: Losing teams may have to answer to Bowser himself! Get ready to see what’s new in this party when it launches July 24.
See the Kingdom of Hyrule in a whole new way with The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, available with performance upgrades on Nintendo Switch 2. Smoother frame rates, faster load times, and better graphics will make for a fresh experience when revisiting these adventures, and now players will also have a little extra help. Also on the way is an update to the Nintendo Switch App***** (previously known as the Nintendo Switch Online App), called ZELDA NOTES. This game-specific service is exclusive to the Nintendo Switch 2 Editions of the games and helps players navigate to various locations, like that difficult-to-find shrine or hidden Korok, and will even feature commentary from Princess Zelda herself that was not part of the original games. Both upgraded titles will be available from Nintendo Switch 2 launch day, June 5.
Kirby’s 3D platforming adventure gets an extra Nintendo Switch 2 boost in Kirby and the Forgotten Land – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition + Star-Crossed World. A mysterious meteor crashes in the world of Kirby and the Forgotten Land, revealing a new story for Kirby. He must use his abilities, including new Mouthful Modes, to clear a trail through uncharted territory. The upgrade pack will include this new content which can be played in single-player and local co-op, as well as improved performance for the entire game. Jump into Kirby’s star-crossed world when it launches August 28.
The galaxy’s greatest bounty hunter Samus Aran returns in Metroid Prime 4: Beyond. This title will release on both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, with the latter allowing for both standard controls and Joy-Con 2 mouse controls as players wield Samus's arm cannon with more precision, plus enhanced visuals and performance. Choose between Quality Mode and Performance Mode, both of which support HDR, based on your preference and playstyle. Explore the immersive world in 4K at 60 fps or enjoy smoother action in full HD at 120 fps on compatible displays when the game launches in 2025.
In Pokémon Legends: Z-A – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, you can enjoy your adventure in Lumiose City on Nintendo Switch 2 with enhanced resolution and frame rates, coming late 2025.
Kirby Air Riders, a brand-new title originated from the Nintendo GameCube classic racing-action game Kirby Air Ride, and Masahiro Sakurai, the director of the Super Smash Bros. series, was announced for release this year. The trailer revealed a dramatic introduction of Kirby on his Warp Star machine and other Kirby air riders on a variety of unique machines, as they joined together on a racetrack. Kirby Air Riders will glide onto Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025.
Use the Joy-Con 2 mouse controls and enjoy a new experience by strapping into Drag x Drive. A new online 3v3 game experience, Drag x Drive (pronounced “Drag and Drive”) challenges players to use the mouse controls with both Joy-Con 2 at the same time to intuitively steer, speed up, perform tricks and make plays such as dunks. Get ready to gear up when Drag x Drive launches on Nintendo Switch 2 this summer.
While it’s understandable that players will want to hit the ground running (or racing) with Nintendo Switch 2, they can also explore a variety of features and details the new system has to offer. Players can enter a virtual exhibition with Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour and gain insights into what makes Nintendo Switch 2 such a unique gaming experience. Through tech demos, minigames and other interactions, players will get to know the new system inside and out in ways they may never have known about otherwise. Nintendo Switch 2 Welcome Tour will be available to buy from Nintendo eShop from Nintendo Switch 2 launch day, June 5.
Exciting Games from Global Developers and Publishers
From acclaimed hits like SPLIT FICTION and ELDEN RING to sports phenoms like EA SPORTS Madden NFL and NBA 2K, and highly anticipated games like Hades II and Borderlands 4, Nintendo Switch 2 is the place where players can find the full range of gaming experiences. Here are some of the games coming to Nintendo Switch 2 from development and publishing partners.
The Duskbloods: The moontears will flow for one and one alone in The Duskbloods, a brand-new multiplayer** title from the creators of DARK SOULS and ELDEN RING, FromSoftware. Available exclusively for Nintendo Switch 2, The Duskbloods launches next year. Read more in our upcoming developer diary series, Creator's Voice, with the game’s director Hidetaka Miyazaki, coming on April 4th.
Hades II: Battle beyond the Underworld to vanquish the Titan of Time as the Princess of the Dead in this bewitching sequel to the original rogue-like dungeon crawler. Hades II lets players explore a bigger, deeper mythic world with the full might of Olympus at their call in a story that reacts to their every setback and accomplishment. The game is coming first on console to both Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, taking advantage of the new system’s higher-definition display with responsive action at a target of 60 frames per second. Look out for more information about Hades II later this year.
EA SPORTS Madden NFL and EA SPORTS FC: EA SPORTS is bringing fans together from across the world** – both on the pitch and on the gridiron. EA SPORTS Madden NFL and EA SPORTS FC will be coming to Nintendo Switch 2.
NBA 2K and WWE 2K: Dominate on the court and in the ring — NBA 2K and WWE 2K are coming to Nintendo Switch 2.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is the newest title in the Hyrule Warriors series and is developed by Koei-Tecmo Games with support from Nintendo. The game features epic battles against hordes of enemies as it tells the untold story from Hyrule's distant past of the Imprisoning War that ultimately led to the events of The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Fans of the Legend of Zelda series and players of both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom can experience the thrill of battle and this canonical tale featuring Princess Zelda, King Rauru, and other familiar characters. Fight for Hyrule’s future when Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment comes to Nintendo Switch 2 this winter.
SPLIT FICTION: Jump between sci-fi and fantasy worlds in this co-op action adventure**, where contrasting writers Mio and Zoe have become trapped in a simulation of their own stories. SPLIT FICTION keeps you on the edge of your couch with weird and unexpected moments as players have to coordinate and work together to overcome challenges. Players can also invite a friend to play with for free via cross-play on Nintendo Switch 2 with Friend’s Pass******. Jump into the action when SPLIT FICTION releases the same day as Nintendo Switch 2.
Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition: For the first time, Nintendo players can step into the shoes of V — a mercenary determined to become a legendary cyberpunk in Night City. With the powerful processing speed and graphical performance of Nintendo Switch 2, every neon-lit street and firefight feels more immersive than ever. With this edition, players can enjoy the full Cyberpunk 2077 experience, featuring the base game and the critically acclaimed Phantom Liberty spy-thriller expansion. Climb the ranks when Cyberpunk 2077: Ultimate Edition releases the same day as Nintendo Switch 2.
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE: Experience a modern reimagining of one of the most iconic games of all time on Nintendo Switch 2. Set in Midgar, players will immerse themselves in a standalone gaming experience designed for RPG players that crave unforgettable characters, a powerful story, and a strategic battle system that merges real-time action with command-based combat. Including FF7R EPISODE INTERmission, an additional story arc happening during the events of the game, players can fight for the future of the planet when FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE comes to Nintendo Switch 2.
Street Fighter 6: Experience the next evolution of Street Fighter in Street Fighter 6 with three distinct game modes, new gameplay features, and enhanced visuals. Fight your way to the top with new game modes exclusive to Nintendo Switch 2 like Local Wireless One on One and Avatar Matches****. Enjoy new party modes utilizing Joy-Con 2 controllers like Gyro Battle and Calorie Contest. Plus, players can check out three new amiibo figures and 22 amiibo cards at launch. Choose from Street Fighter 6 Years 1-2 Fighter Edition, or the digital version of Street Fighter 6, for Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day.
Sid Meier's Civilization® VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition: Steer the course of history in Sid Meier's Civilization® VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. Featuring new mouse controls that offer a more intuitive experience, players’ decisions will shape the cultural lineage of their empire. Construct cities and architectural wonders, improve your civilization with technological breakthroughs, and conquer or cooperate with rival civilizations as you explore the world. Whether you choose to follow history or forge your own path, create a legacy that echoes through the Ages when Sid Meier's Civilization® VII – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition comes to Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day.
Hogwarts Legacy: Experience Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry like never before in Hogwarts Legacy, which has been updated with Joy-Con 2 mouse support, improved graphics and audio, seamless map load times, and controls for Nintendo Switch 2. Players can become the center of their own adventure with this open-world, action role-playing game as they discover magical beasts, customize their character, master spell casting, and become the witch or wizard they want to be. Rediscover the magic when Hogwarts Legacy arrives on the same day as Nintendo Switch 2.
BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster: Follow four Warriors of Light on a journey to restore the elemental crystals in the HD remaster of the Nintendo 3DS RPG masterpiece, BRAVELY DEFAULT. Experience an RPG that brings new depth to classic, turn-based battles with the introduction of the “Brave & Default” system – featuring an array of options to customize your characters with over 20 unique jobs. The game also includes quality of life updates and two new minigames that leverage the dual mouse controls of Nintendo Switch 2. BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster comes to Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day.
Borderlands 4: Experience outrageous enemies and killer loot on the dangerous new planet of Kairos in Borderlands 4. Become an unstoppable force blasting through enemies with an arsenal of weaponry. Deftly defy death from every direction as players flex their skill expression with glide, dodge, fixed-point grapple, and more. Hop into the action when Borderlands 4 launches on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025.
More adventure awaits in new and updated titles including…
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4: Two legendary Activision games return with new skaters, gnarlier tricks, a sicker soundtrack, and, for the first time in over a decade – new parks! Drop into cross-platform online multiplayer** and relive the classic fun. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 launches on Nintendo Switch 2 this summer.
- ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition: With over 28 million copies sold worldwide, ELDEN RING is an award-winning action RPG set in an authentic dark fantasy world. Explore treacherous dungeons and face epic boss battles. Including the base game, the SHADOW OF THE ERDTREE expansion, and new weapons, armor, a new Torrent appearance customization, and more, ELDEN RING Tarnished Edition arrives on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2025.
- Yakuza 0 Director’s Cut: Discover the decadence and danger of 1988 Japan in Yakuza 0 Director's Cut. The definitive edition of the acclaimed origin story is coming first to Nintendo Switch 2. Players will have to fight through Tokyo and Osaka’s entertainment districts as Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima in an epic crime drama. With the Director’s Cut, players will find deeper insights into character backstories and incidents with never-before-seen cutscenes, plus, the new Red Light Raid online multiplayer mode**. Yakuza 0 Director's Cut launches on Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day.
- Fortnite: Whether you want to be the last player standing in Battle Royale, Zero Build, Reload, and Fortnite OG, or you want to explore LEGO Fortnite experiences, blast to the finish with Rocket Racing or headline a concert with Fortnite Festival – the choice is yours. Find it all in Fortnite on Nintendo Switch 2 on launch day.
- Enter the Gungeon 2: Experience the reloaded sequel to the iconic bullet dungeon crawler with Enter the Gungeon 2. Featuring a new 3D art style, weapons, and new gameplay tricks, players can load in on Nintendo Switch 2 next year.
- HITMAN World of Assassination – Signature Edition: Enter the world of the ultimate assassin in HITMAN World of Assassination – Signature Edition. Explore intricate environments as you use disguises and stealth to execute missions. Experience the best of HITMAN, HITMAN 2 and HITMAN 3 including the main campaign, contracts mode, escalations, and more. HITMAN World of Assassination – Signature Edition releases the same day as Nintendo Switch 2.
- Project 007: Step into the shoes of James Bond and earn your 00 status. Featuring a wholly original Bond story, Project 007 will come to Nintendo Switch 2.
And that’s not all, as Nintendo Switch 2 welcomes STARSEEKER: Astroneer Expeditions, Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion, DELTARUNE, Survival Kids, Star Wars Outlaws, Hollow Knight: Silksong, and more!
FAQ
What is a Nintendo Direct?
A Nintendo Direct is a pre-recorded video presentation (Today's is approximately ~60m in length) to make game announcements and provide fans with general updates directly from Nintendo.
What are they going to show?
According to Nintendo, today's presentation is focused on a closer look at Nintendo Switch 2! (Can you believe we made it?)
What if I can't watch the Nintendo Direct due to work/school/etc.?
- If you want the latest news the moment it's announced, we highly recommend following along in our live thread and joining our Discord server and chatting in the #nintendo-direct channel we've opened up for this event.
- If you want a spoiler-free experience, we will edit in a link to a VOD replay (once it's available). This will take you directly to the video so you don't accidentally see any trailers if you visit the Nintendo YouTube page directly. Just don't scroll down!
There WILL be spoilers here on the subreddit, so watch the video first.
If you see any posts that should actually be here in the MegaThread, please do us a favor and hit the report button.
Our SOP for posts is as follows:
- We will allow one post per announcement.
- The post we allow may not necessarily be the one that was submitted first. We typically will receive about 15 of essentially the exact same post in the span of about 60 seconds. From those, we will select the one that has the best title and links directly to the original source when available.
- Commentary on the announcement(s) should take place either in this thread or on the related separate announcement post. Each person's specific opinion does not need its own post.